While supported self-management has been recommended by asthma guidelines for three decades, improving the current suboptimal implementation requires commitment from professionals, patients and healthcare organisations. A review of 270 clinical studies was commissioned to provide a systematic overview of supported self-management to inform improvements in implementation.
The research team, led by the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at Edinburgh University, Queen Mary's University of London and Manchester University, investigated if supported asthma self-management reduces use of healthcare resources and improves asthma control; for which target groups it works; and which components and contextual factors contribute to effectiveness.
It also assessed the costs to healthcare services of providing supported self-management.
From the report: “Supported self-management can reduce hospitalisations, accident and emergency attendances and unscheduled consultations, and improve markers of control and quality of life for people with asthma across a range of cultural, demographic and healthcare settings. Core components are patient education, provision of an action plan and regular professional review. Self-management is most effective when delivered in the context of proactive long-term condition management. The total cost of providing self-management support is offset by a reduction in hospitalisations and accident and emergency visits.
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