Changing inhalers to AIR and MART? 🫁

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. 🗣❓

Top tips from our session:

• Avoid jargon 🚫
• Use natural pauses ⏸
• Keep it shared and patient-centred 🤝
• Ask questions like “How does that sound to you?” or “Does that make sense?” ✅
• Explore the patient's understanding before diving into treatment options—what do they know about their asthma care so far? 🧐
• Encourage shared decision-making—ask for the patient’s thoughts on the plan. 📝

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. 📊📈

Need a refresher on AIR & MART?

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.

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