Regional Communities Breathe Better Program

Asthma affects over 2 million people in Australia, including 1 in 9 children and 1 in 10 adults. The underlying causes of asthma are still not well understood, although there is evidence that environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as genetic factors such as an allergic tendency, increase the chances of developing asthma¹.

While there is currently no cure for asthma, there are effective strategies available to manage the disease and prevent the worsening of asthma symptoms¹.

South Australia has the highest rate of hospital admission for asthma per capita in Australia. It is also known that the prevalence of asthma is significantly higher in people living in regional areas compared with those living in major cities¹.

In 2011 Asthma Foundation SA partnered with ElectraNet to develop the Regional Communities Breathe Better Program. The program aims to support people with asthma and their carers living in the nominated regional communities in South Australia to better manage their respiratory health conditions.

The nominated communities are:

• Loxton
• Berri
• Strathalbyn
• Goolwa
• Kadina
• Wudinna
• Keith
• Millicent
• Clare
• Roseworthy
• Nairne

The key objectives of the program are to:

1. Increase the ability of people with asthma and respiratory conditions, and their carers, to effectively manage their conditions.
2. Increase the knowledge and confidence of health care providers to better support people with asthma and respiratory conditions.
3. Create environments that support the appropriate management of an asthma emergency.
4. Increase availability of asthma resources and services within the community.

To achieve these objectives, the Asthma Foundation will implement a range of initiatives resulting in approximately 110 separate sessions within regional South Australia over the next 3 years (2012-2014). These initiatives are based on core activities of the Foundation and are outlined below:

1. Community Engagement

AFSA will engage with members of each community by setting up a portable consultation and information booth in a prominent location within the town centre.

2. Asthma Emergency Training in schools, child care, sport and recreation clubs and work places

Creating environments that promote and support good asthma management is a key component of the Regional Communities Breathe Better Program. To achieve this, AFSA will provide nationally consistent training to staff and volunteers in a range of community settings about asthma management and how to recognise and respond to a life threatening asthma emergency.

3. Health Services - Education and Training for Health Care Providers

AFSA will provide training and education to health care providers from the local hospital, doctor’s surgery, health centre, pharmacy and aged care facility. This training will provide doctors, nurses, aged-care workers and pharmacy staff with essential professional development required to advance their clinical skills in the areas of assessment, current treatments and management of respiratory conditions.

4. Community Service Clubs

Creating greater awareness about asthma and its symptoms, triggers and management in older communities is a one way to help individuals identify whether they, or someone close to them, might have asthma. It also provides an opportunity for older people with asthma to learn more about managing their condition.

AFSA will facilitate a nationally consistent one hour asthma information program to community service groups such as Lions, Rotary and the Country Women’s Association, providing practical information on how to ‘live well’ with asthma and linked conditions.

References

1. Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) 2011. Asthma in Australia 2011. AIHW Asthma Series no. 4. Cat. no. ACM 22. Canberra: AIHW.