Evidence to Practice: As-Needed Inhaled Corticosteroid Therapy for Asthma Control

Abstract

School nurses support students living with asthma through care coordination activities that reflect current asthma guidelines. Staying abreast of new and beneficial approaches that may improve asthma management and decrease student absences can be challenging due to time constraints and ingrained treatment practices. As a tool for school nurses, this article reviews the results of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute study on the use of symptom-based corticosteroid therapy for students with mild, persistent asthma and includes the NASN Implementation Guidance for School Nurses. Families who experience barriers to daily use of asthma controller therapy may benefit when this change in care is appropriate for their student.

Keywords: access to care; asthma; care coordination; collaborative communication; evidence-based practice; inhalers; parent/family; school nurses; social determinants of health.