Impact of a continuing education activity on the quality of telephone interventions by nurses in an adult asthma client base.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of a continuing education activity on the clinical evaluation and advice provided by nurses working for a telephone triage service with an asthmatic client base, and to measure the number of referrals to Asthma Education Centers (AECs). The results suggest a positive impact on the quality of the telephone intervention in the short term, but this was not sustained over time. Few patients were referred to an AEC.

Evaluation of a program aimed at increasing referrals for asthma education of patients consulting at the emergency department for acute asthma.

Background: Emergency department (ED) visits for asthma may reflect poor asthma control, often due to insufficient asthma education and medical follow-up. However, few patients consulting an ED for asthma are referred for education.

Aims: To describe a model for automatic referral to educational interventions targeting patients consulting at the ED for acute asthma, to demonstrate how this model can be integrated into current care, and to increase referrals for asthma education.