From the Guidelines
During asthma follow-up visits, healthcare providers should ask patients about their asthma control, medications, and quality of life, including questions such as "Have you noticed anything in your home, work, or school that makes your asthma worse?" and "Are your medications causing you any problems?" To assess asthma control and guide treatment adjustments, healthcare providers should inquire about symptom frequency, severity, and triggers, as well as rescue inhaler use and medication adherence, as recommended by the expert panel report 3 (epr-3) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma 1. Some key questions to ask during follow-up visits include:
- "Have you noticed anything in your home, work, or school that makes your asthma worse?"
- "Describe for me how you know when to call your doctor or go to the hospital for asthma care"
- "What questions do you have about the asthma action plan? Can we make it easier?"
- "Are your medications causing you any problems?"
- "Have you missed any of your medications?" These questions help evaluate asthma control, assess patient understanding of their Asthma Action Plan, and identify potential environmental triggers or medication issues that need to be addressed, as outlined in the guidelines 1. Healthcare providers should also review the patient's Asthma Action Plan and their understanding of when to adjust medications or seek help, and explore environmental factors that may trigger symptoms, such as allergens, smoke exposure, or occupational irritants, in order to provide comprehensive care and improve patient outcomes.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Asthma Follow-up Visits
To ensure effective management of asthma, follow-up visits are crucial. The questions to ask during these visits can be guided by the following points:
- Asthma control: Ask about the patient's asthma control, including any symptoms, exacerbations, or changes in treatment 2
- Medication adherence: Inquire about the patient's adherence to their medication regimen, including any issues with inhaler technique or side effects 3, 4
- Lung function: Assess the patient's lung function through tests such as spirometry, and ask about any changes in symptoms or lung function 5
- Quality of life: Discuss the patient's quality of life, including any impact of asthma on daily activities, sleep, or emotional well-being 4
- Treatment plan: Review the patient's treatment plan, including any changes to medication or dosage, and ask about any concerns or questions the patient may have 3, 6
Key Questions to Ask
Some key questions to ask during asthma follow-up visits include:
- What are your current asthma symptoms, and how have they changed since the last visit?
- Are you experiencing any side effects from your medication?
- Have you had any asthma exacerbations or hospitalizations since the last visit?
- How often are you using your rescue inhaler, and are you experiencing any issues with inhaler technique?
- Have you noticed any changes in your lung function or symptoms since starting or changing treatment?
Additional Considerations
Additional considerations for asthma follow-up visits include:
- Scheduling regular follow-up visits, ideally every 6 months, to monitor asthma control and adjust treatment as needed 3
- Encouraging patients to keep a symptom diary or use a peak flow meter to track their asthma symptoms and lung function 6
- Providing education and support to patients on proper inhaler technique, medication adherence, and asthma self-management 4, 5