Course Overview

This two-day Introduction to Asthma course is designed for healthcare professionals working in Primary Care who are developing their knowledge and confidence in asthma diagnosis and management.

The programme provides a comprehensive foundation aligned with current national and international guidance, including NICE NG80, BTS/SIGN guidance, and GINA recommendations. It supports clinicians in understanding asthma pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, safe prescribing principles, and structured long-term management within Primary Care settings.

Day one focuses on the fundamentals of asthma, including clinical history-taking, diagnostic criteria, objective testing, and inhaler therapy. Day two builds on this foundation, exploring asthma monitoring, structured asthma reviews, Personalised Asthma Action Plans (PAAPs), and the safe assessment and management of asthma exacerbations.

Learning is case-based and clinically focused, with reference to the findings of the National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) to reinforce safe practice and risk recognition.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for:

Practice Nurses
Nurse Associates
Advanced Clinical Practitioners
General Practitioners
Primary Care Pharmacists
Healthcare professionals new to asthma management

No prior advanced respiratory training is required.

What This Course Covers

Day 1 – Foundations of Asthma Care

Definition and pathophysiology of asthma
Importance of a structured clinical history
Recognising typical and atypical presentations
Diagnostic approaches in adults and children
Objective testing: peak flow, spirometry and FeNO (overview)
Application of NICE and BTS/SIGN guidance
Inhaler types and mechanisms of action
Inhaler technique and device selection
Factors influencing inhaler choice (age, coordination, adherence, environmental considerations)
Introduction to personalised asthma action planning

Day 2 – Monitoring, Safety and Long-Term Management

Structured asthma reviews in Primary Care
Assessing control and future risk
Stepwise pharmacological management
MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) principles
SABA overuse and risk recognition
Developing and reviewing Personalised Asthma Action Plans (PAAPs)
Recognising and managing asthma attacks
When to escalate or refer
Learning from the National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD)
Case-based discussion and clinical scenarios

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Describe the underlying pathophysiology of asthma
Take a structured clinical history to support diagnosis
Understand appropriate use of objective diagnostic tests
Apply current NICE and BTS/SIGN guidance within Primary Care
Demonstrate correct inhaler technique principles
Conduct structured asthma reviews
Develop effective Personalised Asthma Action Plans
Recognise high-risk features and manage asthma attacks safely
Identify when referral or escalation is required

Course Format

Duration: Two full days

Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face

Format includes:

Structured teaching sessions
Practical inhaler device discussion
Case-based learning
Scenario analysis
Interactive discussion

Participants are encouraged to consolidate learning within supervised practice in their workplace following completion.

Certification

Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.