The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Literature Review
Fitzpatrick et al. (2020) point out that asthma is multidimensional; thus, it creates significant difficulties in its assessment. Current studies on asthma do not focus on corticosteroids when assessing the method of treatment. Most research focuses on the severity and control of asthma in specific individuals. The ignorance sidelines the effectiveness or the effects of taking asthma medication (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). However, the lack of a standardized tool for measuring the severity or control of asthma makes it hard for researchers to assess the effects of corticosteroids.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious developed the Composite Asthma Severity Index (CASI) to help in the assessment of the severity of asthma. The tool classifies asthma severity in three fundamental domains, namely, risk, medication requirements, and impairment (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). Despite the efforts to further clinical and research tools used in quantifying asthma control and severity, the CASI faces several threats. The device ignores the effects of corticosteroids or any other medication procedures such as biological therapy or the use of tiotropium.
The Asthma Severity Scoring System (ASSESS) seeks to provide solutions to the above problems. ASSESS uses a multidimensional construct that takes into account asthma control, medication analysis, and lung functions (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). The refined tool also adjusts to changes in short-term medication and does not require pro-information about the patient (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). Thus, ASSESS makes it possible to assess the progress of asthma at any point in time. Furthermore, the tool also identifies the effects of any medication on the patient’s body. Health Practitioners can quickly assess the impact of corticosteroids by using the tool.
Patient involvement in the management of asthma plays a crucial role in determining the level of efficacy for treatment. The best form of increasing patient engagement is improving adherence to asthma medication. Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck (2015) note that two key factors affect patient adherence to medication. The two elements are healthcare providers and beliefs that patients have about asthma medication. Asthma research rarely focuses on the follow up of asthma patients (Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck, 2015). Adherence to the medication has a direct correlation between following up consultations conducted by health practitioners. Follow up determines the relationship that exists between adherence to medication, beliefs about medicine, and asthma control.
Through random sampling, Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck (2015) tested 30,000 participants using questionnaires. The study discovered that poor adherence to medication is universal in the general population. Individuals with a combination of inhalers had higher adherence to medication compared to individuals that used a single inhaler (Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck, 2015). Patients are not involved and concerned with their health owing to the beliefs that they have about asthma medication. The notion that the drug causes harm to individual bodies significantly reduces adherence to the medication. (Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck, 2015) Lack of a patient-doctor relationship also reduces the level of follow-up that exists among asthma patients. However, a change in the overall guidelines would significantly improve the level of follow up as well as adherence to asthma medication (Axelsson, Ekerljung, & Lundbäck, 2015). A refinement in follow-up measures would increase adherence to asthma medication, thus reducing the effects of asthma.
Colice, G. L. (2017) suggests that the misuse of asthma drugs is usually a result of poor asthma control. In the study, Colice sought to uncover whether patients underwent follow up after treatment and what was the result of the process. The study categorizes patients depending on the severity of their disease. Patients with high severity registered higher doses of the ICS used in treatment. Those with lower severity underwent a milder dosage. Furthermore, the prescription also varied depending on the severity of the disease. However, Colice noticed that doctors did not shift to asthma control once a patient was diagnosed with asthma. Instead, the