Nordic physicians' management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Failure to follow management guidelines may result in impaired health care. We aimed to overview physicians' management of acute and stable asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in the Nordic countries based on scientific reports during the last 10 years. Strategies to improve asthma management should consider applying more frequently good quality spirometry in diagnosing asthma and COPD. There still appear to be an under-use of glucocorticosteroids in acute as well as in stable disease in the Nordic countries, especially among asthmatic patients. An over prescription of antibiotics in asthma patients were observed. In COPD patients there are uncertainty in management with under use of ipratropiumbromid and inappropriate use of corticosteroids as welt as inadequate knowledge about nebulizing systems, dosing of medicines, monitoring severity of disease and tools for quality control. Further improvement may include educational approaches like multidisciplinary approach for medical students and self-learning groups of doctors. Modern Internet technology and telemedicine may be new ways to proceed in improving health care for patients with asthma and COPD. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.