BBO Training

Course Overview

This two-day Introduction to Asthma course is designed for healthcare professionals working in Primary Care who are developing their knowledge and confidence in asthma diagnosis and management.

The programme provides a comprehensive foundation aligned with current national and international guidance, including NICE NG80, BTS/SIGN guidance, and GINA recommendations. It supports clinicians in understanding asthma pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, safe prescribing principles, and structured long-term management within Primary Care settings.

Day one focuses on the fundamentals of asthma, including clinical history-taking, diagnostic criteria, objective testing, and inhaler therapy. Day two builds on this foundation, exploring asthma monitoring, structured asthma reviews, Personalised Asthma Action Plans (PAAPs), and the safe assessment and management of asthma exacerbations.

Learning is case-based and clinically focused, with reference to the findings of the National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) to reinforce safe practice and risk recognition.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for:

• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Associates
• Advanced Clinical Practitioners
• General Practitioners
• Primary Care Pharmacists
• Healthcare professionals new to asthma management

No prior advanced respiratory training is required.

What This Course Covers

Day 1 – Foundations of Asthma Care

• Definition and pathophysiology of asthma
• Importance of a structured clinical history
• Recognising typical and atypical presentations
• Diagnostic approaches in adults and children
• Objective testing: peak flow, spirometry and FeNO (overview)
• Application of NICE and BTS/SIGN guidance
• Inhaler types and mechanisms of action
• Inhaler technique and device selection
• Factors influencing inhaler choice (age, coordination, adherence, environmental considerations)
• Introduction to personalised asthma action planning

Day 2 – Monitoring, Safety and Long-Term Management

• Structured asthma reviews in Primary Care
• Assessing control and future risk
• Stepwise pharmacological management
• MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) principles
• SABA overuse and risk recognition
• Developing and reviewing Personalised Asthma Action Plans (PAAPs)
• Recognising and managing asthma attacks
• When to escalate or refer
• Learning from the National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD)
• Case-based discussion and clinical scenarios

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the underlying pathophysiology of asthma
• Take a structured clinical history to support diagnosis
• Understand appropriate use of objective diagnostic tests
• Apply current NICE and BTS/SIGN guidance within Primary Care
• Demonstrate correct inhaler technique principles
• Conduct structured asthma reviews
• Develop effective Personalised Asthma Action Plans
• Recognise high-risk features and manage asthma attacks safely
• Identify when referral or escalation is required

Course Format

Duration: Two full days

Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face

Format includes:

• Structured teaching sessions
• Practical inhaler device discussion
• Case-based learning
• Scenario analysis
• Interactive discussion

Participants are encouraged to consolidate learning within supervised practice in their workplace following completion.

Certification

Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.