Severe Asthma Course

Type online

Price $100.00

Course Length 5–10 hours

Timeframe 6 months

Access open

Severe asthma is a complex and burdensome condition that requires specialized care. While it represents a smaller proportion of the overall asthma population, it accounts for a disproportionate share of morbidity, health care use, and impact on quality of life. Health care providers need advanced knowledge and skills to support accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and patient-centered self-management.

The RESPTREC^® Severe Asthma course provides respiratory educators with an in-depth understanding of severe asthma, including disease mechanisms, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and evidence-based management strategies. The curriculum highlights emerging therapies such as biologics, precision medicine, and non-pharmacologic interventions, while emphasizing the importance of collaborative care and patient engagement.

By completing this course, participants will be equipped with the expertise and tools needed to better identify, manage, and support individuals living with severe asthma—helping reduce the burden of disease and improve health outcomes.

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This course features:

Login to RESPTREC^® using registration email and password.
Side bar menu for easy navigation of course content.
Visible course itinerary to easily track course progress.
Independent learning activities to practice and apply course content.
Chapter quizzes to assess comprehension and application of course content.
Final quiz to assess comprehension and application of course content.
Course evaluation.

From time of registration, students have 6 months to complete this course. This course takes approximately 5–10 hours to complete.

Chapters

Introduction to Severe Asthma
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Severe Asthma
Management of Severe Asthma

Chapter: Introduction to Severe Asthma

Define severe asthma
1. Explain the key features in the definition of severe asthma
2. Differentiate between uncontrolled asthma and severe asthma
Explain the pathophysiology of severe asthma
1. Explain the inflammatory response and the pattern of inflammation in severe asthma
2. Define phenotyping in severe asthma
3. Describe the different phenotypes of severe asthma including:
  1. allergic
  2. non-allergic
  3. late-onset
  4. asthma with fixed airflow limitation
  5. asthma with obesity
4. Explain the role of biomarkers in severe asthma
Examine the epidemiology of severe asthma
1. Identify the prevalence of severe asthma worldwide and in Canada
2. Explain the burden of severe asthma in terms of:
  1. Economic
  2. Social (impact on quality of life)

Chapter: Diagnosis and Evaluation of Severe Asthma

Explain how a diagnosis of severe asthma is made
1. Explain the Canadian Thoracic Society approach to the diagnosis of severe asthma
2. Describe the criteria for a diagnosis of severe asthma
3. Discuss the investigations used for the diagnosis of severe asthma
4. Describe conditions which mimic severe asthma-like symptoms
Describe the risk factors that influence the development of severe asthma
1. Discuss the role of allergy in severe asthma
Describe comorbidities that can co-exist in severe asthma
1. Discuss the pulmonary comorbidities that can occur in association with, or as a result of severe asthma
2. Discuss the non-pulmonary comorbidities that can co-exist in severe asthma

Chapter: Management of Severe Asthma

Discuss the comprehensive approach to the management of severe asthma
1. Explain the components of the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) severe asthma management continuum for children (6 years and over), adolescents and adults
2. Describe the parameters to assess asthma control
Discuss the approved pharmacological treatments for severe asthma
1. Explain the goal of pharmacotherapy in the management of asthma
2. Explain the current recommendations for therapy for each of the following classes of medication in the management of asthma and severe asthma including:
  1. Inhaled short-acting β₂ agonist (SABA)
  2. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
  3. Combination inhaled corticosteroid and inhaled long-acting β₂ agonist (ICS/LABA)
  4. Long-acting β₂ agonists (LABA)
  5. Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) - tiotropium bromide
  6. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA)
  7. Oral corticosteroids (OCS)
  8. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE inhibitor)
  9. Macrolides (long-term)
  10. Biologic therapy:
    1. Anti-immunoglobulin E (Anti-IgE) agent
    2. Anti-interleukin 5 (Anti-IL5) agents
    3. Anti-interleukin 4 anti-interleukin 13 (Anti-IL4/IL13) agent
    4. Anti-TSLP agent
3. Explain the characteristics of the common respiratory infections including, how it is spread, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
4. Explain the impact common respiratory infections have on patients with severe asthma
5. Discuss the recommended and suggested vaccinations for eligible patients with severe asthma
Describe inhaled delivery devices used in severe asthma
1. Explain the impact of proper and improper inhaled delivery device technique
2. Explain selection considerations when recommending an inhaled delivery device
3. Explain proper technique and care instructions for inhaled delivery devices used in severe asthma:
  1. Diskus
  2. Ellipta
  3. Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
    1. Without valved holding chamber
    2. With valved holding chamber
  4. Respimat
  5. Turbuhaler
  6. Twisthaler
  7. Nebulizer
4. Explain the direct instruction model (DIM) for skill-based teaching
5. Explore appropriate teaching resources for medications and delivery devices for healthcare professionals and patients with severe asthma
Describe the non-pharmacological considerations for severe asthma
1. Explain the role of environmental control, education, and a written action plan in severe asthma
2. Explain the role of bronchial thermoplasty in the management of severe asthma
Discuss the importance of monitoring and follow-up for people with severe asthma
1. Explain the goal and importance of monitoring and follow-up for patients with severe asthma in terms of:
  1. Monitoring treatment
  2. Monitoring for worsening of symptoms
  3. Monitoring education and self-management needs
2. Explore services and resources that are available to support education and self-management for patients with severe asthma
Discuss the clinical trials currently available in Canada for severe asthma
1. Explain the role and importance of clinical trials in severe asthma
2. Explain how patients with severe asthma can become involved in clinical trials in Canada

Students must meet the following entrance criteria:

hold a degree/diploma in a recognized health care profession and work in the health care field
although not a prerequisite, students are strongly encouraged to have successfully completed the RESPTREC^® Asthma Course (or equivalent)

If there is a question regarding met criteria, acceptance to the program will be made on an individual basis and at the discretion of the RESPTREC^® Management committee.

A wide range of representatives from health disciplines and endorsing agencies were involved in curriculum development including: the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS), Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals (CRHP), The Lung Association, clinicians, researchers, certified respiratory educators, respiratory therapy, nursing and physical therapy.