Make it clear and shared.
Last week, I had a great teaching session in practice with three of our ST3s—we were all practising how to explain AIR (Anti-Inflammatory Reliever) and MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) therapy clearly and simply to patients. It was a helpful reminder that while we might be familiar with these terms, patients often aren’t.
When you’re discussing asthma options, this is a section where you’ll be doing more of the talking—but not all at once. Leave space for questions, check understanding, and keep it a conversation. 🗣❓
When we practised last week, it took each of us three or four attempts to get to an explanation we were happy with. This is a normal part of refining your approach, and it shows the value of making the conversation as clear and patient-centred as possible. 💬✨
Check your % talking data—yes, clinical management means more input from you, but it should still feel like a dialogue. Remember, the Clinical Management domain carries more weight than Data Gathering or Relating to Others—so this bit really matters. 📊📈
There’s a recent eLearning module on Asthma: Updates to Diagnosis and Treatment published in April 2025 on the RCGP website. It’s a great resource to stay up-to-date with the latest asthma management guidelines.
Author
N. Turner
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