Indigenous Australians are one and a half times more likely to be affected by asthma than non-Indigenous Australians. This figure almost doubles for Australians over the age of 45. Surprisingly, Indigenous Australians in non-remote areas are almost twice as likely to be affected by asthma as their remote counterparts.

Asthma is manageable, however many of the mainstream asthma management programs produced are often less appropriate in an Indigenous context due to factors such as lack of resources, language use and cultural context. Recently, Indigenous-focused awareness programs have been developed to provide appropriate education to patients and their families and communities, with a view to improving management outcomes. Integral to effective asthma management is a coordinated approach from all health workers including Aboriginal Health Workers, General Practitioners, Practice Nurses and other health professionals. This coordination is often difficult in areas where resources are stretched.

The program investigates asthma among Indigenous Australians, risk factors and differential diagnostic tools, including spirometry. With a focus on culturally appropriate information, topics include the role of asthma action plans in the patient self-management, current medications and use and access to devices.

After viewing the program, participants will be able to:

• Recognise specific issues relating to asthma in Indigenous communities
• Increase their understanding of the importance and effectiveness of:
  • early detection of asthma
  • risk factor management, particularly smoking
  • self-management, particularly the use of asthma action plans and adherence to pharmacotherapy
• Identify community-based initiatives that improve access to medications and devices
• Understand the importance of culturally appropriate patient information

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
- Professor Anne Chang, Paediatric Respiratory Physician, Brisbane.
- Dr Graeme Maguire, Respiratory and Outreach Physician, James Cook University and Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns.
- Ms Anne Bastien, Asthma Educator, Asthma Foundation of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
- Dr Penny Abbott, General Practitioner, Western Sydney Aboriginal Medical Service, Mt Druitt, NSW.
- Mr Chris O'Brien, Aboriginal Health Worker, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Wollongong, NSW.

68 minutes.

This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 11 December 2007.

This program is accredited or endorsed for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for more Asthma Management for Indigenous Australians resources.

National Asthma Council Australia, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing.

- 815 Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma?
- 810 Balancing the Benefits: Asthma and Combination Therapy Update
- 703 Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
- 607b Grow Strong
- 509b Growing Healthy Aboriginal Kids - The Early Years: 1-5
- 503 Asthma and Combination Therapy: Getting the Balance Right
- 404 Aboriginal Health Workers and Chronic Disease Management
- 316 Breathing Easy: Respiratory Disease in Indigenous Children
- 310 Asthma 3+ Visit Plan
- 306 New Directions in Paediatric Asthma Management
- 205 Indigenous Child Health
- 113 Asthma in the Older Person: A Coordinated Approach