Asthma is a global healthcare problem that is growing in both developed and developing countries. It is thought that approximately 300 million people worldwide display symptoms of asthma and millions of those do not receive adequate, ongoing treatment. The asthma community can be divided between clinical groups (comprising of health professionals interested or practising in the area) and patient advocacy groups (providing a range of services to people with asthma from local support and educational services to awareness raising and lobbying). Patient surveys in the US, Europe and Asia demonstrated that asthma management falls short of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) goals. Furthermore, studies recommended a new active partnership, and a renewed level of communication and understanding, between health professionals and people with asthma (or in the case of young children, their parents or guardians), to meet these goals.

WHAT WE DID:

We founded the Global Asthma Coalition, a voluntary body dedicated to improving the lives of the millions of people around the world who live with asthma, aiming to raise the level of expectation for management of asthma worldwide. The Global Asthma Coalition advances its mission through joining the knowledge base and experience of health professionals with successful international and local organisations representing people with asthma. Leading clinicians and patient organisation were invited to join the Global Asthma Coalition and an inaugural meeting was held at the European Respiratory Society conference. Sponsorship for the Global Asthma Coalition was secured from a number of pharmaceutical companies with an interest in improving outcomes for asthma sufferers.

THE RESULTS:

• The Global Asthma Coalition has developed an evidence-based review of international research and writing (literature, studies, materials, best practice) in the area of the consultation process
• The Coalition held a one-day multi-disciplinary workshop to discuss and agree best practice
• The evidence-based review was published as an outcomes document of practical methods to improve the consultation in a major peer-reviewed journal, which is now being widely promoted and disseminated by the Global Asthma Coalition on an international level.