With the growth of biologic agents to treat severe asthma, there is an increased need for shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers. A poster recently accepted to the 2023 American Thoracic Society conference highlights the value of tethered education (otherwise called aligned education) for this purpose. This involves having a patient program, followed soon after by a provider program where we share insights from the patient program with providers.

PlatformQ Health and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America teamed up with the patient advocacy organization National Jewish Health to deliver a tethered program. 

The patient program addressed self-management strategies, inflammation changes in asthma, as well as how patients can benefit from biologics. This was followed soon after by a provider program that focused on the role of epithelial alarmins on T2 and non-T2 downstream inflammation in asthma, mechanisms of action for biologics for severe asthma, as well as efficacy and safety of treatment that targets TSLP. 

Presented by faculty from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, David Geffen School of Medicine, the director of the National Jewish Cohen Family Asthma Institute, as well as a patient with asthma, the program was quite popular. 13,52 learners participated in the provider session, while there were 786 platform views and 64,581 social media views for the patient program. 

Click here to download the full poster.

61% of participating providers reported the education provided a positive impact on their clinical practice, and 65% of patients reported a positive impact on their communication with their health care provider. 

The outcomes data supports the value of tethered education in the evolving management of severe asthma. Findings made it clear that continuing education for patients and providers is needed for personalizing therapy and empowering patients to achieve their treatment goals.