Asthma Education Flashcards

A pregnant patient with previously well-controlled asthma presents with worsening symptoms during the second trimester. What is the recommended approach?

Answer: Continue or adjust controller therapy to maintain control, as uncontrolled asthma poses greater fetal risk

Uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy poses greater risk to the fetus than properly used asthma medications, so maintaining control is the priority.

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate outcome measure for evaluating the effectiveness of an asthma education intervention?

Answer: Reduction in emergency department visits and hospitalizations

Reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations are clinical outcome measures that directly reflect improved asthma management.

A patient reports that their asthma symptoms worsen when they take ibuprofen. This pattern is most consistent with which condition?

Answer: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)

AERD (also called Samter's triad) involves asthma, nasal polyps, and sensitivity to NSAIDs including aspirin and ibuprofen.

When assessing a patient's health literacy, which approach is most effective for confirming understanding of inhaler technique?

Answer: Using the teach-back method and asking the patient to demonstrate the technique

The teach-back/demonstrate-back method is the gold standard for confirming procedural understanding and correcting errors in real time.

Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) should NEVER be used in asthma without which concurrent therapy?

Answer: An inhaled corticosteroid

LABAs carry an FDA black box warning and must always be combined with an ICS in asthma due to risk of asthma-related death when used as monotherapy.

A patient with asthma also has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). How does GERD relate to asthma management?

Answer: GERD can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms through microaspiration and vagal reflexes

GERD can worsen asthma through acid microaspiration and reflex bronchoconstriction, and treating GERD may improve asthma control.

Which of the following is a hallmark feature of asthma that distinguishes it from COPD on spirometry?

Answer: Significant reversibility of airflow obstruction (≥12% and 200 mL improvement in FEV1) after bronchodilator

Significant post-bronchodilator reversibility (≥12% and ≥200 mL increase in FEV1) strongly supports asthma over COPD.