UK Inhaler Group launches new website on World Asthma Day
An interactive new website has been launched today, World Asthma Day (2 May), to raise awareness of the importance of accurate inhaler technique with healthcare professionals.
The free-to-access site promotes the UK Inhaler Group’s (UKIG) Inhaler Standards and Competency Document, which was first published in January 2017. It can be viewed here: https://ukiginhalerstandards.educationforhealth.org
UKIG developed these standards in response to its concerns that people are still unable to use their inhalers correctly and many healthcare professionals are also unable to assist people effectively to optimise their technique. The standards set out how healthcare professionals can work with patients to maximise the benefit of their inhaled medication. Education for Health developed the site in partnership with UKIG, a coalition of not-for-profit organisations andprofessional societies with a common interest in promoting the correct use of inhaled therapies.
UKIG member Jane Scullion, Respiratory Nurse Consultant University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and lead author of the standards document, said: “We are excited to launch this new site on World Asthma Day. It is an excellent resource that will help to spread the word about UKIG’s inhaler standards and, in turn, improve outcomes for many people with respiratory disease. Using an inhaler is the most common and effective way to take respiratory medications and remains the cornerstone for treating airways diseases such as asthma and COPD. Correct inhaler use is fundamental to improving outcomes in asthma and COPD. Healthcare professionals need to know it, show it, teach it and review.”
Education for Health’s Chief Executive Monica Fletcher OBE, is Chair of UKIG. She said: “Education for Health takes great pride in delivering education and training in an innovative way that enables healthcare professionals to increase their knowledge and understanding at a time and place to suit them. This new interactive site is a great example of this and will enable many professionals to support patients to optimise their inhaler technique.”