Asthma

Resources

Related Sites

Contact Info

Asthma Program
health.asthma@state.mn.us

Asthma Medications: Tools and Resources for Health Care Providers

On this page:
SMART Therapy
Asthma Medication Posters
Asthma Educational Resources
Videos
Inhaler Device Technique
Instructional Inhaler Handouts
Instructional Inhaler Videos
Instructional Inhaler with a Valved Holding Chamber (Spacer) Videos
Patient and Family Educational Materials from Children's Minnesota
Handouts in other languages
Spirometry

The following tools and resources are available to support the role of the health care provider in delivering quality care to their patients who have asthma. Helping patients maintain asthma control includes the following: 

  • Providing appropriate asthma medications
  • Addressing environmental factors that cause worsening symptoms
  • Helping patients learn self-management skills (inhaler technique)
  • Monitoring long-term to assess control and adjust therapy as needed

SMART/Mart Therapy Guidelines

2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines: 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines | NHLBI, NIH

2024 Main Report – GINA Guidelines: 2024 GINA Main Report - Global Initiative for Asthma - GINA

Key differences

  • EPR-4 (2020 update) introduces SMART or Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (ICS-formoterol) starting at Step 3, but notes that formoterol-containing inhalers are not FDA-approved for reliever use in the U.S. This limits widespread adoption despite strong evidence.
  • GINA recommends MART or Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (ICS-formoterol) even at Step 1 for mild asthma.

SMART/Mart Therapy Resources

Online training 

Asthma Medication Posters

The following asthma partner posters have been designed to support patient education in clinics, schools, pharmacies, and other community/workplace settings. The posters provide a comparison of the various treatment options, and help patients identify their maintenance/controller medicines or quick relief medications. Individual organizations regularly update posters as new treatment options become available. 

  • This 2-sided Respiratory Treatment poster from the Allergy and Asthma Network provides a comparison of the various treatment options, helps patients identify their inhalers and is a great reference for patient education. The posters are available in both English and Spanish. There is a large poster (17’’ x 22’’), small poster (8.5’’ x 11’’), 50-page pads, and a free digital download.
     
  • This 2-sided poster from the American Lung Association (PDF) provides images of Asthma and COPD Medicines of Quick Reliver Medicines, Maintenance/Controller Medicines, and Add-On Medicines. The back side of the poster provides information on SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) and step-by-step instructions for how to use a metered-dose inhaler with a valued holding chamber (spacer). 

Asthma Educational Resources

The following resources include videos, toolkits, worksheets, PDFs, infographics, and other resources for providing asthma education in the clinic, school, and/or home visit settings. 

What is asthma?

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Asthma Resources for Patients and Caregivers. Asthma Resources for Patients and Caregivers. A collection of resources from Learn More Breathe Better and Breathe Better Network partners includes information to help manage asthma, about how to have discussions with your healthcare provider, and how to manage asthma in the school environment.

Videos

  • What is Asthma Dr. Alex Thomas, an allergy doctor and someone who has asthma, talks in this 4:03 minute video about asthma, medications, and how medications work in the lungs. The video includes whiteboard animation drawings
  • How Lungs Work, American Lung Association. This 2-minute animated video explains how lungs work and how to keep your lungs and yourself healthy every day. Available in English and Spanish.
  • What is Asthma?, American Lung Association. This 1:44 minute animated video explains how asthma can cause changes in the airways of the lungs. Learn more about changes and triggers that may cause symptoms leading to an asthma attack.
  • What is Asthma?  National Jewish Health asthma expert, Brian Modena, MD, explains how this chronic disease is diagnosed and treated. This 2:17 minute video is appropriate for adult and older asthma patients.
  • Learn About Asthma National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Guidelines video to learn about Asthma and how it affects the lungs.  
  • 2020 Focused Updates to Asthma Management Guidelines: SMART Therapy Video American Lung Association. Dr. Sofi Ali, MD, MPH, Family Practice Physician provides a short overview (3:00 minutes) about the updates to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Guidelines that include the addition of SMART Therapy. 

Inhaler Device Technique

Top 10 Mistakes Kids and Adults Make 

Inhaled therapy is the cornerstone of asthma treatment, and direct delivery of medication to the lungs allows for optimal efficacy and safety. However, up to 94% of patients with asthma and COPD do not use their inhalers correctly, and they require multiple education sessions to maintain their technique. Inhaled asthma medication needs to reach the airways to work effectively. 

National Jewish Health has created two Top 10 Inhaler Mistakes Kids/Adults Make in a poster format. Review the 10 common mistakes made when using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and how to correct them. 

asthma inhaler with chamber

Instructional Inhaler Handouts

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers printable handouts that provide guidance and general steps for appropriate inhaler technique. Handouts are available in English and Spanish. 

Instructional Inhaler Videos

Instructional videos that demonstrate how to properly use inhaled medications for asthma and other lung diseases. 

Instructional Inhaler with a Valved Holding Chamber (Spacer) Videos

Instructional videos created by National Jewish Health and the American Lung Association demonstrating how to properly use metered-dose inhaler with a Valved Holding Chamber (Spacer). 

  • Using a AeroChamber®  consists of a plastic tube with a mouthpiece, a valve to control mist delivery, and a soft sealed end to hold the metered dose inhaler
  • Using a AeroChamber® with Mask  consists of a plastic tube with a mouthpiece, a valve to control mist delivery and a soft sealed end to hold the metered dose inhaler. The AeroChamber with a mask is helpful for young children who can’t inhale the medication and hold their breath
  • How to use a metered-dose inhaler with a valved holding chamber (spacer) American Lung Association video demonstrating proper device technique when using a metered-dose inhaler with valved holding chamber.  Video available in English and Spanish

Patient and Family Educational Materials from Children’s Minnesota

Asthma videos in additional languages

Children’s Minnesota Asthma Center offers videos in English, Spanish and Somali. 

Handouts in additional languages

Russian (Русский)

Somali (Af-Soomaali)

Spirometry Resources 

Spirometry is the most common type of breathing test. Spirometry measures how much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs, as well as how easily and fast you can blow the air out of your lungs. Spirometry can help diagnose asthma.


 

Tags
Last Updated: 02/04/2026