Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper

Asthma is a common incurable disease that affects the small tubes carrying air in and out of the lungs in the airways; it is more common at childhood stage but can also occur at a later age (British Lung Foundation, 2011). Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper The major cause of asthma has not been determined but it is believed that some factors as allergies, exercise and common cold contribute to its development. In the United Kingdom, asthma is being handled primarily by a General Practitioner or nurse. Healthcare can be provided in three major means: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. They are delivered depending on the severity of an individual’s condition. General Practitioners (GPs), Pharmacists, Nurses, Dentists and Optometrists are the main classes of healthcare providers that deliver Primary care. It is the basically the first point of contact for most individuals (National Health Service Choices, 2010). Care distinctively provided in local hospitals is usually on referral from primary care health providers, such type of care is basically referred to as Secondary Care. The third aspect of care is the tertiary care which is provided by specialist such as neurologist and cardiologist in a majorly specialised hospital centre for long term treatment.Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper

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EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF ASTHMA

Major facts that make Asthma a major health issue in the UK are:

In 2008, a total number of 1,204 deaths were recorded from asthma in the UK, out of which 29 were children aged 14 years and under.

1 person every 7 hours or 3 people per day die from asthma

146,000 adults and 36,000 children currently are on treatment for asthma in northern Ireland making it a sum total of 182,000 people (1 in 10)In Northern Ireland 182,000 people (1 in 10) are currently receiving treatment for asthma.Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper This consists of 36,000 children and 146,000 adults.

In Scotland 368,000 people are currently receiving treatment for asthma. This consists of 72,000 children and 296,000 adults.

In Wales 314,000 people are currently receiving treatment for asthma. This consists of 59,000 children and 256,000 adults (Asthma UK, 2011).

the number of adults with asthma in the UK has increased by 400,000 since the last audit of UK asthma in 2001

about 2% of adults consult their GP annually with asthma

ASTHMA CARE AND MANAGEMENT AND LOCALITY STUDY OF UK

Asthma exists in various forms hence; its heterogeneity has been well established by a variety of studies that have proven the disease risk from early environmental factors and susceptibility genes, inflammation and therapeutic agent response further induces accompanying diseases (Lang et al., 2011).Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper Risk factors associated with asthma are family history of atopic disease, for example

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic conjunctivitis

Male sex, for pre-pubertal asthma, and female sex, for persistence of asthma from childhood to adulthood

Bronchiolitis in infancy

Parental smoking, including passive smoking

Premature birth, especially in extreme-preterm infants who required ventilatory support, with consequent chronic lung disease of prematurity (NHS Choices, 2011)

In the UK, asthma is more common among children than in adults and also has an increased rate in women than men (NHS choices, 2010). A condition referred to as acute asthma exacerbation could occur and could sometimes be life-threatening but is mostly rare. Asthma patients are treated with care by GPs and nurses trained for asthma management and such treatments are specific to the symptoms portrayed by each patient. This treatment (Primary care) basically involves:

• A personal asthma procedural plan concurred with your GP or nurse Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper
• An annual regular check ensuring proper control of the patient’s treatment and positive response to the treatment
• Proper seeking of the patient’s consent ensuring his/her decision is involved in decision making of his/her treatment

Comprehensive detailed information about how to control and manage the patient’s condition; while a Secondary or Reactive care is enforced in emergency cases to regain control of more high-risk symptoms.

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In treating asthma, reliever inhalers are given to every patient by the GP; these inhalers serve as immediate relievers and ensure restoration of normal breathing. It functions effectively due to its composition of a short-acting beta2-agonist that works by relaxing the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways (British Medical Journal group, 2011). This further ensures the airways are opened wider, making it easier to breathe again. Salbutamol and terbutaline are common types of this inhaler.Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper They have been proven to be generally safe except when their use is abused although they possess very few side effects. If the asthma is well controlled, then their usage will be minimal; if a patient uses the inhaler for up to three times or more weekly then it is advised that the treatment be reviewed

Secondary care and management of asthma is implemented when Patients exhibit a combination of severe asthma, behavioural and psychosocial features, they hence are at risk of developing near-fatal or fatal asthma. (BTS and SIGN, 2009).

Asthma care is dependent on the age of the patients in that children have a different mode of care as compared to adults, a critical look at the adult care is elaborated below.Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper Prior considerations are basically that the patient is registered with his GP, will have to book for an appointment with his GP before visiting (except in emergencies as acute exacerbations), confirmation with the patient of their understanding of the role of treatment, adherence to treatment, inhaler technique, and appropriate elimination of trigger factors as: exercise, drugs foods, emotional factors, weather changes, allergens etc (Shiang et al., 2009)Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper

In analyzing the delivery of care to asthma patients in the UK, data from Office for National Statistics shall be addressed. Table 1 below signifies that there was a remarkable decrease in hospital admission in 2000 for asthma; it showed a 45 percent decrease among children between ages 5 and 14 years and a 52 percent decrease among children below 5 years (Office for National Statistics, 2004). Care and Management of Asthma Assignment Case Study Paper