Asthma and
Asthma Training Center
Responsibility for the day-to-day management of asthma often falls on the patient and the patient’s family. Health education is a powerful tool in helping the patient gain the motivation and the skill to help him control his asthma.
Patient education involves helping the patient understand asthma by learning the skills necessary to manage asthma, and supporting the adoption of proper asthma management behavior. However, providing information is necessary but not enough to accomplish these objectives. Educating the patient should also emphasize the development of both the patient’s asthma management skills and the confidence that he, indeed, can control his own disease.
Patient education also involves helping patients with the resources necessary to adhere to the prescribed treatment, reinforcing the patient and the patient’s family’s determination to practice appropriate asthma management.
As such, the Lung Center has thought it relevant to organize an Asthma Club, primarily as a support group to educate asthmatic patients and assist them in their needs.
General Objective
To establish a support group for asthmatic patients at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
Specific Objectives- To educate asthmatic patients and their relatives on asthma and on the management of their condition
- To offer assistance to patients with regard to their needs related to their disease
- To offer counseling to free patients from the stigma of their condition and the limitations that asthma poses to their lifestyle/li>
- To provide a system of mutual assistance among its members
- To assist in public information and dissemination efforts regarding asthma
- To serve as a prototype for the organization of similar support groups elsewhere
New applicants to the Asthma Club will go through different levels depending on their fulfillment of certain requirements. The basic requirement is that upon enrollment into the club, the applicant will be given an asthma IQ examination to determine his overall knowledge of asthma.
Thereafter, he will be a junior member of the Asthma Club and will have to attend a series of seminars on the basics of what asthma is as a disease, and its overall management. Key points include defining asthma, identifying its signs and symptoms, learning the characteristic changes in the airways of asthmatic patients, understanding the role of medications, determining asthma triggers and how to avoid, eliminate or control them, and ultimately, treating asthma.
After all written and oral evaluations, the junior member may qualify as a senior member of the Asthma Club once he goes through another series of seminars on more detailed information regarding asthma. These will include the use of a peak flow meter, the use of a metered dose inhaler and other inhalation devices, an initiation of the management of an asthma episode at home, and other practical aspects of asthma management.
A written or practical examination will be given to the senior member for him to qualify for the next level which is that of becoming an Instructor. In this particular level, the member should be able to deliver lectures to individuals or groups on facts about asthma, applying his knowledge about the different aspects of patient education.
From being an Instructor, a member may proceed to being a counselor if he wishes. This will require his ability to give advice on and assist patients with different problems regarding the disease. This would require:
Workshop on Asthma for Health Workers.
Asthma Training Workshops are conducted with participants from both government and non-government agencies, including the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries, PhilHealth, and the Calayaan Educational Foundation, Inc.
Asthma Club Seminars
Seminars on the Basics of Asthma (Guided Self-management of Asthma) are held with participants composed of asthmatic patients and their relatives. Module I of the seminar is a requirement to become a member of the Asthma Club while Module II is conducted during the General Assembly of the club.
During community visits, patients with asthma are identified and encouraged to join the LCP Asthma Club. A support group for asthmatics.Head Office
: Outpatient Department, Room 1209
Program Head: Dr. Jaime Mendoza
Telephone No.: 924-6101 to 20 local 250
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