Technical Assistance and Monitoring

The ADF provides access to good quality essential drugs at low prices in order to increase affordability of asthma care for patients. The key component and priority of this care is the routine use of inhaled corticosteroids for patients with persistent asthma.

Rationale

• Accountability

As with any system and services, accountability is essential for ensuring efficiency and transparency. An information system based on accountability can be used to guide implementation, identify areas of challenge and improve quality of services.

• Monitoring and evaluation

Routine collection and evaluation of information about the care of each patient is essential for assuring transparency in service provision and the best quality of care. Recording and analysing information is a vital part of caring for patients – on an individual and service-wide basis. It is necessary for planning the provision of care, analysing situations, evaluating treatment outcome and revising practice if results are not satisfactory.

• Focus on inhaled corticosteroids

The monitoring system focuses on persistent cases of asthma treated by inhaled corticosteroids. These are the more severe cases of asthma and most at risk of death and disability. In addition, when these cases are poorly managed, they lead to very high costs for health services. The majority of avoidable emergency room visits and hospitalisations are for patients with persistent asthma. These unplanned visits dramatically decrease or completely disappear when the patients follow a long-term regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.

Client’s role

The client is required to:

  • identify an individual responsible for providing the monitoring reports to the ADF;
  • submit quarterly monitoring reports, as specified in the Technical Agreement with the ADF and as described in The Union Asthma Guide:
    • Quarterly report on new cases of persistent asthma
    • Quarterly report on treatment outcome

Clients may use one of three alternatives for submission:

  • Manually complete and submit the Quarterly reports using your existing information system if it is in line with the 4 step approach, as specified in the Technical Agreement with the ADF; or

  • Set up the information system presented in The Union Asthma Guide, using the Asthma treatment card and Register of persistent asthma. Manually prepare the Quarterly reports, which use information that comes directly from the Register; or

  • Use the electronic information system provided by The Union. This uses the EpiData and EpiData Analysis software.

ADF services for clients  

ADF services will help to improve asthma care in countries and dramatically decrease asthma-related costs. The ADF provides:

  • training materials for health care providers
    • The Union Asthma Guide
    • participant training manual
    • instructor manual and slides

  • an information system for monitoring asthma case management in health facilities
    • Treatment card
    • Register
    • Quarterly report on new cases of persistent asthma
    • Quarterly report for treatment outcome
    • Quarterly order form for treatment supplies

  • an EpiData electronic asthma database programmed for clients to record and evaluate patient care.
    The pre-programmed database is available to clients free-of-charge to facilitate the recording and evaluation of data.

  • evaluation of standardised care of asthma
    • The ADF reviews all the quarterly reports sent by clients and, after evaluation, provides guidance, assistance and technical comments.
    • The ADF encourages and assists clients to prepare scientific manuscripts based on their experience.

Additional services available

  • The ADF determines whether any site visits are necessary.

  • The ADF offers country or regional training courses, but courses must be paid for by the participating countries.

  • Peak flow meter specifications and procurement are available on request through The Union.

For more details, please contact adf@iuatld.org

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