As World Asthma Day approaches on Tuesday 1 May, asthma is still one of the major illnesses affecting adults and children in rural areas but, according to senior lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences Dr Deborah Burton, management of the illness is improving.
There are currently over 2.2 million people diagnosed with asthma in Australia and a significant number of these live in rural areas.
Prevalence of asthma is similar between urban and rural areas but hospitalisations for asthma are higher in rural and remote regions. Other evidence also points to the poorer management of asthma in rural areas.
Dr Burton’s research into rural prevalence and management of asthma looks at implementing new techniques, the education process and services.
“The aim of my research is better control of the illness and improving the level of services available to remote areas,” she explains.
“I’m looking at improving the link between doctors and pharmacists so that they share in providing lung function measurement and asthma management advice. With the shortage of health professionals in rural regions everyone needs to be involved in the process.
“People are interested in their own health, they just don’t always have access to services and facilities.”
Organisations around the world will join forces on Tuesday 1 May to raise awareness of asthma and ways to reduce the burden of asthma during Asthma Awareness Month.
“World Asthma Day importantly raises awareness of asthma,” Dr Burton says, “and with the ongoing winter season coughs and colds causing asthma to become more problematic, it is a good time for people to review their asthma with their doctor and pharmacist.”
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