What is the goal of the #AskAboutAsthma campaign in 2023?
#AskAboutAsthma highlights simple changes to children and young people’s care that will make a big difference to how they experience their asthma. Led by the Babies, Children and Young People programme of NHS England – London, the aim is for every person involved in the care of a child or young person with asthma – from GPs and nurses to parents/carers, teachers and youth group leaders – to know about the four things that can help every person to manage their condition and live full, active lives.
The campaign centres around four key areas:
- getting an asthma action plan in place,
- understanding how to use inhalers correctly,
- scheduling an asthma review – every year and after every attack, and;
- considering air quality and its impact on lung health.
Why is childhood asthma a concern in the UK?
1 in 11 children and young people are affected by asthma, which is around 3 in every London classroom – it is the most common long-term medical condition affecting this group.
Many have poorly controlled asthma, with over 20,000 admitted to hospital every year in England. Over 4% of these have such a severe episode that they are admitted to intensive care.
Promoting good asthma management and raising awareness around the wider factors that can risk triggering asthma helps to reduces exacerbations and allows children and young people to have the same quality of life as their peers, unlimited by their condition. It is particularly important as they transition into teenage years and adulthood that they are able to manage their asthma independently.
What should the top priorities in treating and managing childhood asthma be?
Prevention is key when it comes to treating and managing asthma and is reflected in the ‘four asks’ of the #AskAboutAsthma campaign. Healthcare professionals can support their young patients by ensuring they have an asthma plan in place, scheduling regular reviews, checking they know how to use their inhalers, and are aware of the impact of air pollution on their lungs.
In addition, they can identify children and young people with asthma who may not yet have been formally diagnosed or who are not managing their condition well. High rates of prescribed short-acting beta-agonists, for example, may provide a clue.
What are the key points of the 2023 campaign for health professionals supporting children and young people with asthma?
The 2023 campaign theme is “Widening our view’’ and shines a light on the wider factors of children and young people’s asthma care including housing, mould and vaping.
A key goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the impact that these environmental factors can have on the experience and severity of asthma. The campaign also aims to ensure that those with asthma, as well as their friends, families and the whole system that cares for them, know where and how to find accurate information and resources about asthma management.
For health professionals specifically, a key point of the campaign is to provide a reminder as to the role they can play in helping more children and young people feel empowered to ask about their asthma and get the right care.
For 2023, the #AskAboutAsthma campaign will run from 11 – 17 September which is ahead of the 38th week in the year – the week where, nationally, there is a rise in asthma attacks following the return to school after the summer holidays.
Visit the #AskAboutAsthma campaign page to download a toolkit to help you spread the word about these four steps that can help manage asthma.