Effective self-management is very different from telling patients what to do. Patients have a central role in determining their care, one that fosters a sense of responsibility for their own health. The most successful organizations use a collaborative approach: one in which providers and patients work together to define problems, set priorities, establish goals, create treatment plans, and solve problems along the way.

Patients with asthma need support, as well as information, to become effective managers of their own health. In order to meet these needs, it is essential for patients to have the following:

• Basic information about asthma
• Understanding of and assistance with self-management skill building
• Ongoing support from members of the practice team, family, friends, and community

Providers need to be sensitive to the role that families, caregivers, and communities play in different cultures. Better patient outcomes are achieved through use of evidence-based techniques that emphasize patient activation or empowerment, collaborative goal setting, and problem-solving skills. The provider team can use standardized assessments of patient self-management needs and activities to enhance its ability to support patients. These assessments include questions about self-management knowledge, skills, confidence, supports, and barriers.