Achieving and Sustaining Asthma Control in the Community Setting by Combining Clinical Assessment with Enhanced Use of Spirometry

Program Overview
In this activity, experts will review the role of inflammation in both the large and small airways, the pathophysiology of asthma, and use of spirometry for the diagnosis, clinical and physiologic assessment, pharmacologic management, and achieving asthma control.

Target audience
This program has been designed for Community pulmonologists, primary care physicians, internal medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other health care providers involved in the care of patients with asthma.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of the educational activity, participants should be able to:
-Evaluate the emerging data on the importance small airway function in the pathophysiology of asthma
-Review the use of spirometry and definition of asthma control for the management of each stage of disease severity
-Demonstrate strategies to overcome barriers to care and empower patients to better understand and manage their asthma

Method of Participation
In order to receive credit, participants should read the entire monograph, complete and submit an evaluation and score at least 70% on the self-assessment test. Statements of Credit will be available upon successful completion of the self-assessment test. If you have questions about this CME/CE activity, please contact AKH Inc. at service@akhcme.com.

Disclosure Declaration
It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The faculty must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflict of interest is resolved by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Products
This educational activity does not include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer
AKH Inc.ís activities are designed solely to provide healthcare professionals with information to assist in their practice and professional development. The activities are researched thoroughly, utilizing current literature and including practical experiences. AKHís activities are not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The activities serve as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, they cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH educational activities do not endorse commercial products. The author(s) and the publisher specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the activities. AKH further disclaims any responsibility for undetected errors, or from the readerís misunderstanding of the activity.

Copyright © 2014 AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.