Program #801 • Available Sunday, June 01, 2003
Certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through Thursday, June 01, 2006

Asthma in Children

 

Program Description

Asthma in childhood is on the “top 10” list of reasons for ambulatory visits to primary care physicians every year. It is particularly problematic among urban populations and families of low socioeconomic status. Childhood asthma poses unique diagnostic and management challenges for pediatricians, family physicians, and in fact all clinicians who deal with young patients. It has often been said, however, that the pediatric patient is not just a small adult. Beverley J. Sheares, MD, of the Children’s Hospital of New York—Presbyterian and the Pediatric Pulmonary Division at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, explains just what the critical differences are between adult and pediatric patients with asthma. In addition, she outlines her “fast track” approach to recognizing this chronic respiratory disease and controlling both its symptoms and the underlying inflammation that defines the disease process. Columbia-Presbyterian has long been in the forefront of community-based asthma care. To maximize the practical value of this educational program, Dr. Sheares, who includes the improvement of the health education skills of physicians and the self-regulation skills of families of children with asthma among her professional interests, explains how to get the most from the patient interview and the history when making the diagnosis, how to avoid common pitfalls in the physical examination, and why the chest X-ray film is both important and potentially misleading. She then outlines the pros and cons of the important classes of asthma medications in the context of childhood asthma and describes how she enlists the child and the family in a partnership to ensure long-term control of asthma.

(60 minutes)

Credit Information

Up to 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

This activity is designed for primary care physicians (especially family physicians and pediatricians), as well as allergists, emergency medicine specialists, pulmonologists, general internists, and other physicians and health care professionals involved in the care of children with asthma.

Learning Objectives

After taking part in this CME activity, participants should be able to:

CME Credit Designations

ACCME The Network for Continuing Medical Education (NCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA NCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAFP This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 2 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins Tuesday, June 01, 2004. Term of approval is for one year from this date, with option for yearly renewal.

AOA This activity is eligible for up to 2 hours of credit in Category 2-A of the American Osteopathic Association.