Asthma Workshop for nurses

Getting ready the certificates of attendance for the nurses and the CPD points from Lembaga Jururawat.

PCS Assist Support Group Meeting

We are continuing this programme in conjunction with the Perak Chest Society. I shall be attending to the Q&A sessions. Cik Azmeera out physiotherapist will assist in the physical exercises and Ms Navaneswary our pharmacy assistant will help attendees improve on their inhaler techniques.

Please come and learn.

App helps asthma patients to monitor condition through action plan

The Star Online.
Article by Ms Amanda Yeap


TO BETTER manage asthma, the Perak Chest Society is encouraging patients to use a smartphone app called AsthmaMD.

Society president Dr Leong Oon Keong, who strongly supports the use of the free app created by medical doctor and researcher Dr Sam Pejham, said the app helps patients to track and control their condition through an asthma action plan.

“It is best for each patient to own a peak flow meter first to go with this app,” he said.

“A patient should blow into the instrument at least twice a day — upon waking up and before going to sleep — then jot down the results in the app’s journal to monitor their condition.

“Currently, doctors still chart meter readings on paper, but with this app, everything is instant because the patient can do it on their own,” he tells MetroPerak.

To the uninitiated, a peak flow meter is a calibrated instrument used to measure lung capacity and monitor breathing disorders. It is commonly used among asthma patients.

The AsthmaMD app allows patients to keep track of their asthma activity and action plan.

Dr Leong said the app will inform the user whether their condition is critical or under control, depending on the results of their meter reading.

“When the reading shows critical, the app will then launch an asthma action plan telling a patient what they should do to get it under control again.

“Now this is the important part of the app usage — you must confirm with your doctor the type of relievers you can take for this action plan beforehand so that you are taking the correct dosage of medicine.

“About 30 minutes after taking the first round of medication, the app will ask, ‘How are you?’
“If you feel better, the plan will stop. If not, the next step of the action plan will continue. Each round of medication must be keyed in by your doctor from the beginning,” he said.

Dr Leong points out that the one feature that makes this app essential for asthma patients is that once the user’s asthma activity is diligently charted every day, it can be easily shared with their doctor.

“The app provides a graphic chart of an asthma journal, which can be emailed to a doctor so they can easily learn of a patient’s progress.

“This saves the patient so much time, as they don’t have to make the physical trip to the clinic to find out their progress.

“If all is well, the doctor may extend the appointment date. But if things deteriorate, the patient can come in earlier to see the doctor instead of having to wait until the next appointment,” he said.

The app’s other features include recording data of asthma symptoms experienced (coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, waking at night due to asthma, the ability to do some but not all usual activities), asthma triggers (dust, fumes, exercise, pollution, pollen, strong odours, viral illness) as well as reminders so that patients do not forget to take their medication even though their condition is well managed.

Being a consultant chest physician himself, Dr Leong said the society has long been searching for ways to help patients with respiratory complications self-monitor their conditions at home.

“We’ve only managed to find this app to help asthma patients.

“Although this app has been in existence since 2010, and has been written about in international publications, I believe a lot of doctors here are not aware of this useful tool.

“As doctors, we can’t do everything ourselves for the sake of our patients, so if there’s anything free and beneficial to patients, we must share it,” he said.

Dr Leong, who believes that the app can pave the way to the age of telemonitoring diseases at home in Malaysia, said the society will be conducting formal lessons soon to educate nurses and counsellors on how to effectively use the app.

“This can then be passed on to patients so they know what to do after being discharged, while maintaining direct communication with their doctors by sending them the charts from this app.

“I must stress that it is vital for patients to go back to their doctors to confirm their asthma action plan, so that they know the dosage of medicine they should take every day to control their symptoms,” he said.

For more information, go to www.pcs.org.my or www.asthmamd.org.

Asthma Workshop

AsthmaMD is a very unique free app available from the Play Store and App Store.  It is very useful in the following ways:

• Peak flow values can be recorded and charted.
• Asthma symptoms and triggers can be recorded.
• Reminders for daily medication.
• An asthma action plan can be documented with the help of a doctor.
• Emailing a copy of peak flow chart to the doctor for comments.

Please share the app with your asthmatic friends!

Asthma Workshop 2015

Asthma Workshop 2015 is now a half day workshop.  Come and learn how to self manage asthma.

Public Forum on TB Lung Infection

The Perak Chest Society held a public forum today at 11.30 am at its secretariat to coincide with World TB Day.  TB incidence is increasing and we need to be well informed about the disease.  The talk attracted about 18 participants with nurses from Hospital Fatimah and Perak Community Specialist Hospital.  

Admission to the public forum is free but very surprisingly TB patients are not too keen to learn about the disease they are suffering from.  Hopefully the next meeting will have a larger audience!!

Public Forum on PTB (pulmonary tuberculosis)

This public forum will be held in conjunction with world TB day 2015.  You may preview the slides for the upcoming presentation here:  Fighting PTB

Asthma Self Management Workshop 2014

This workshop was held on Saturday, 18th October 2014 at the LSN Hall above my clinic.  There were 32 participants of which 25 were nurses.  The nurses were from Hospital Fatimah, PCSH, nursing homes, factories and government hospitals.  There were several pharmacists as well.  The 2 speakers were Dr Leong Oon Keong and Ms Leong Yee Leng RN.

From the feedback forms, we note that most participants attended the workshop in search of knowledge to improve themselves in the management of asthma.  There were several asthmatics in the crowd as well. 

Public attendance for the public forum was rather poor, partly because we only wanted asthmatics to attend and they had to pre-register.  We placed advertisements in the Star, Ipoh Echo and Malay Mail.  

The halal food served was well received.  Azmeera's mother made nasi lemak, fried mee hoon and tea for the morning break.  We had a choice of grilled or honey chicken for lunch.  The afternoon break consisted of 3 "kuehs". 

All participants were given printed handouts, goodie bags with sample inhalers, pencils and sweets to keep them awake.

Workshop activities included the handling of various inhalers (metered dose and dry powdered), peak flow meters with charting and spacers.

The post workshop evaluation test consisted of MCQ's projected onto the screen.  Participants who were the first to answer correctly were given mouse pads as prizes.

The organizers wish to thank the following sponsors:  Takeda, Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis. We would also like to thank our 2 facilitators, the Yee sisters, and the committee members of the Perak Chest Society for making this workshop a resounding success.

Workbooks for Asthma Workshop ready

My nurses learnt something new today - how to use a binder to make a booklet.  Now I am busy preparing the asthma worksheets.  Thinking of some very difficult questions for the participants.

In future, there will be a test for nurses who wish to become asthma counselors.  The Perak Chest Society and the Malaysian Thoracic Society will work together to create a standard for this test.

Forum strictly for Asthmatics

We have restricted entry for this forum because of limited seats and a need for a targeted audience.

Continuining Professional Development for Nurses

Here are the CPD points for nurses who will be attending our Asthma Workshop on 18 October 2014.

Asthma Forum 2014

This asthma forum will be held in conjunction with the Asthma Workshop. Only asthmatics will be invited to attend due to a lack of seats.

Talk on "Managing Severe COPD".

Talk held at Akamomiji Japanese Restaurant. Doctors wanted 78 slides instead of 20 slides. Very keen learners.

Resolution 2014: Making a difference in Lung Health.

Lung diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Malaysia.  Below is a table showing the large number of deaths caused by influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis and lung cancers in Malaysia.  Combined it was the second biggest killer after coronary heart disease in year 2010.

Join the Perak Chest Society to fight lung diseases.  Be a volunteer or participant.

Together we can make a difference in Lung Health.

World COPD Day 2013

 

World COPD Day 2013 was celebrated on Saturday 23rd November at KPJ Ipoh Specialist Centre.  Dr. Chin Yow Wen gave a talk on COPD and its management.  Mdm. Leong Yee Leng RN highlighted the activities of the Perak Chest Society to the audience.  Attendance was very encouraging.  Several people bought our Asthma Friendly School T-shirt for RM 20 in support of our AFS project.  It was the last activity of the PCS for the year. 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

Nutrition for the Elderly Talk (Cantonese)

This talk by dietician Ms Rachel Lee was held on Saturday 12th October at the Leong Sin Nam Memorial Hall.  This event was jointly organised by the Perak Chest Society and Leong Chest Clinic. It was sponsored by Abbott.  Turnout was encouraging.  All participants were given free body composition tests and milk powder.   

 

AFS @ Ave Maria Convent School

The Asthma Friendly School event at SMK Ave Maria Convent, Ipoh on Saturday 12th October 2013 was a great success.  You should see the enthusiasm of the students and teachers present.  The asthma learning games were very well received.  Everyone was so eager to learn.  Please visit the Photo Gallery at the Perak Chest Society (www.pcs.org.my ) for more pictures. 

 

I wish to thank Ms Teng Saw See, the Senior Assistant of Students Affairs, Ave Maria Convent for her kind assistance and presence during the event.  The venue and lunch provided by the school were excellent.  A special word of thanks also goes to the volunteer nurses from Kinta Medical Center lead by Sister Foong and the volunteers from the Perak Chest Society.