Asthma and the RT

About This Course

Respiratory therapists play a significant role in the treatment and management of asthma. This course, updated in 2021 with new content, addresses the pathophysiology and diagnosis of asthma, measures of assessment and monitoring, pharmacologic therapy, impact of social determinants of health on asthma outcomes, control of environmental factors, and comorbid conditions that affect asthma.

It is expected that the learner will also read the 2020 GINA Guidelines, which can be downloaded for free at https://ginasthma.org/gina-reports/.

Successful completion of this course requires a score of 70% on the post-test.

**Please note that all programs require the participant to view the entire program prior to taking the final quiz and obtaining a course certificate.**

Chapters

Asthma Pharmacology

This presentation focuses on the following objectives:

• Achieve good control of symptoms and maintain normal activities
• Minimize the risk of exacerbations, reducing lung function, and medication side effects

Speaker Information

• Douglas S. Gardenhire EdD, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC

Improving Asthma Care

This presentation focuses on the following objectives:

• Use educational models and frameworks when designing asthma self management education
• List strategies that facilitate good patient education
• Identify how neighborhood, family, and individual factors influence the development of asthma and asthma exacerbations
• Describe strategies to mitigate environmental triggers
• Explain which strategies are needed to improve asthma care

Speaker Information

• Ellen A. Becker PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RPFT, AE-C, FAARC

Pathophysiology & Diagnosis of Asthma

This presentation focuses on the following objectives:

• Discuss the pathophysiology of asthma
• Identify the importance of spirometry in the diagnosis of asthma
• Identify the proper procedure for obtaining spirometric measures
• Discuss other diagnostic testing methods that would support the diagnosis of asthma

Speaker Information

• Shawna Strickland, PhD, CAE, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC