Rational prescribing for ongoing management of asthma in adults

Although asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in Australia, current treatment often fails to reflect clinical practice guidelines. Improving the patient's management first requires an assessment of how well their asthma is controlled. Factors such as poor inhaler technique and poor adherence may contribute to poor asthma control. These need to be addressed before adjusting the patient's drug prescription. Simple processes for step-up and stepdown adjustments of treatment are used to maintain good control while minimising adverse effects. There should be an emphasis on shared decision-making to improve patient understanding and acceptance of treatment.