Isabel L. Virella-Lowell, MD, Associate Professor, Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Speaker Disclosure

Isabel Virella-Lowell, MD

• Does not intend to discuss any commercial products or services

• Does not intend to discuss non-FDA approved uses of products/providers of services

• Does not have a relevant financial relationship with any commercial interests.

Commercial Support

This activity receives no commercial support. 

Introduction

Although asthma is currently not curable, symptoms can be controlled with appropriate medical treatment, self-management education, and by avoiding exposure to environmental allergens and irritants that can trigger an attack. Implementation by clinicians of the 2007 National Health Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Guidelines for the Management and Treatment of Asthma Expert Panel Report can significantly reduce asthma exacerbations, related hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Despite excellent intentions and pockets of superb care, a major opportunity exists to improve care for children with asthma and their families, as much care is still delivered in ways that are not consistent with the evidence.  Affecting nine million children, childhood asthma is the most common serious pediatric chronic disease.  African-American and Puerto Rican children have a higher prevalence of asthma compared with non-Hispanic white children. Furthermore, the incidence of pediatric asthma continues to grow; it accounts for 14.7 million missed school days a year and 44% of all asthma hospitalizations.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this internet enduring material activity participants will be able to:

• Restate the definition and epidemiology of asthma

• Review asthma triggers and typical presentation of asthma symptoms

• Discuss the typical steps to making an accurate asthma diagnosis

• Identify and reduce the exposure of risk factors

Please review the information below and follow the instructions in order to view the training, complete the online evaluation form, and successfully pass the online post-test, which will automatically submit for CME credit(s).

Disclaimer Statement

This Internet Enduring Material activity does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies or procedures of the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama, or its staff or representatives.  Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance cannot and does not assume any responsibility for the use, misuse or misapplication of any information.

Designation Statement

Children’s of Alabama designates this enduring material for a maximum of .25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Children’s of Alabama and the Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance.  Children’s of Alabama is accredited by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Please note that effective July 1, 2011, enduring materials are required to provide an assessment of the learner that measures achievement of the educational purpose and/or objectives of the activity.  Upon completion of this activity, you will be directed to the post-test.  To receive your CME certificate, you must score a minimum of 75% on the test.

Enduring Materials Information

Formats Available: Streaming*

On-Demand Release Date: 11/14/2017

On-Demand Expiration Date: 11/14/2020

Instructions

All three steps are required:

1.  Video Training: Identification and Diagnosis of Asthma, Isabel L. Virella-Lowell, MD, Associate Professor, Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Video Time: 17.31 min

Click HERE to access the video.  It is recommended that you access the PowerPoint presentation handout HERE to review as you watch the video.  You will be instructed to return here to access the post-test and CME activity evaluation.

2.  Post-Test

To take test, choose physician post-test or non-physician posttest (test is the same but CME certificate is different).  You must click through and complete entire test (75% pass rate) in order for your test results to be submitted for CME credit AND certification.  On the last screen you will see your test score and if passing, will be prompted to download your CME certificate.

3.  Evaluation

Click HERE to take/submit CME activity evaluation.

Identification and Diagnosis of Asthma Bibliography

The State of Childhood Asthma, United States, 1980 – 2005. December 29, 2006.  Akinbami LJ. U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

NHLBI Guidelines Asthma Care Quick Reference Guide – Revised in 2012 https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthma_qrg.pdf  

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3).

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthgdln.pdf  

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Asthma Care Quick Reference. Diagnosing and Managing Asthma.  https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthma_qrg.pdf  

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Asthma Facts. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-08/documents/2017_asthma_fact_sheet.pdf  

Barnett S and Numagambetov T. Costs of asthma in the United States: 2002-2007. JACI. 2011. Jan: 127(1):145-152. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.020. http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(10)01634-9/abstract    

CDC. National Center for Environmental Health. Asthma’s Impact on the Nation: Data from the CDC National Asthma Control Program. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/impacts_nation/asthmafactsheet.pdf  

Wang LY, Zhong Y, Wheeler L. Direct and indirect costs of asthma in school-age children. Prev Chronic Disease. Jan 2005. 2(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0053.htm   

CDC. Most Recent Asthma Data. National Data/State Data. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data.htm

CDC. National Surveillance of Asthma: United States, 2001- 2010.  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_03/sr03_035.pdf

Heron M, Hoyert D, Murphy S, etc. CDC. National Vital Statistics Reports. Death: Final Data for 2006. 2009 April; 57(14). http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf   

CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. CDC Wonder On-line Database, 1999-2009. 2012. Series 20. No 20. http://wonder.cdc.gov/   

Trend in Mortality and Morbidity. American Lung Association. September 2012. http://www.lung.org/finding-cures/our-research/trend-reports/asthma-trend-report.pdf  

CDC. Asthma Facts: CDC’s National Asthma Control Program Grantees. 2013 July. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/asthma_facts_program_grantees.pdf