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On the 15th of February Asthma Australia presented “The Hidden Burden and Challenges of Asthma”, a special ACT pharmacist’s event featuring Associate Professor Vanessa Murphy PhD, Professor Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich and Jessica Leung.
These three amazing women discussed asthma from a number of different perspectives such as pregnancy, how Asthma Australia’s Consumer Advisory Council supports the work we do, and the challenges of providing optimal care in pharmacy for patients with asthma. The event has been divided into three parts for you to watch below.
Part 1: Asthma in Pregnancy
Associate Professor Vanessa Murphy
Associate Professor Vanessa Murphy is a research scientist investigating the characteristics, mechanisms, and consequences of asthma exacerbations during pregnancy and their health impact on both mother and baby. Her research interests focus on asthma in pregnant women. Her research is trialling new approaches to the management and treatment of asthma during pregnancy, with a focus on reducing the rate of asthma exacerbations in pregnancy and improving health outcomes for the baby.
Vanessa presented on the launch of the Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit developed by the University of Newcastle in collaboration with over 50 national and international stakeholders, including Asthma Australia health experts and asthma champions. Her presentation coincides with the launch of the Breathe Well for your Baby campaign delivered in partnership with Asthma Australia and funded by the ACT Government.
Part 2: Asthma Australia’s Consumer Advisory Council
Jessica Leung
Jessica spoke to her role as a member of Asthma Australia’s Consumer Advisory Council. Jessica is a passionate pharmacist and dentist based in the ACT, and as a person who has lived with asthma since she was a child, speaking of the unique challenges of achieving and maintaining good asthma control. Jessica spoke of her experience in community pharmacy and in public health service and demonstrated the successful outcomes that can be achieved through grass-roots engagement and proactive communication.
Part 3: The Role Pharmacists Play in Asthma Management
Professor Bosnic-Anticevich
Professor Bosnic-Anticevich is a medical researcher and respiratory pharmacist, internationally recognised as an expert in respiratory medicines use. She is founder and Head of the Quality Use of Respiratory Medicines Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and The University of Sydney. Sinthia’s research has led to the development of the “gold standards” in the use of inhalers, impacting on national and international treatment guidelines for asthma, COPD and allergic rhinitis. Her research with different patient populations, health care professionals and health care setting is key to our understanding of how to optimise the use of respiratory medicines for improved health outcomes.
Sinthia spoke about the changes in asthma management and how pharmacists play an important role in communicating those changes and understanding the needs of people with asthma.