The role of the nurse in supporting patients with asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

The role of the nurse in supporting patients with asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic

Deborah Louise Duncan Lecturer in Education (Nursing), Medical Biology Centre, Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Why you should read this article:
  • To be aware of recent guidance for patients with asthma concerning COVID-19

  • To appreciate the challenges patients with asthma have been experiencing during the pandemic

  • To understand the importance of telehealth, remote working and asthma management plans

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. It is a highly contagious virus that has led to a pandemic. There are several known risk factors for COVID-19, including age, gender, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and smoking. Asthma has only been a risk factor in a small number of cases.

Despite the lack of information about asthma and the risk of contracting COVID-19, especially in children, it is a condition we need to take seriously. An important aspect of the role of the nurse in supporting patients with asthma in primary care is dispelling myths concerning COVID-19 and their condition by using telehealth and other forms of remote working.

There is confusing data about patients with COVID-19 using steroids; there are even suggestions that patients with asthma should stop using their prescribed steroids. Recent national and worldwide recommendations state that patients with asthma should keep using their prescribed medications. It is therefore important that nurses supporting patients are aware of local and national guidelines and any new recommendations.

Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2020.e1679

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

@dduncan42

Correspondence

d.duncan@qub.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Duncan DL (2020) The role of the nurse in supporting patients with asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2020.e1679

Published online: 22 July 2020

Want to read more?

RCNi-Plus
Already have access? Log in

or

3-month trial offer for £5.25/month

Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
  • Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
  • RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
  • NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
  • A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe

Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now


Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more