On Demand webinar: An introduction to Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART)
Let's be MART for asthma.
Maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) is a combined treatment system for asthma where a single, combined inhaler is used for both maintenance and reliever purposes, instead of having separate preventer (brown) and reliever (blue) inhalers. This system has many benefits such as reducing inflammation in the lungs, as well as providing quick relief from severe asthma symptoms, reducing asthma attacks and hospital admissions due to asthma, reducing prescription costs and it's better for the environment!
In this webinar, Katherine Hickman (PCRS executive chair) and guest speaker Noreen Grant (GP) discussed:
- What Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) is and the benefits of a MART regime
- Guidance on how to initiate a MART discussion with your patient, as well as starting them on MART
- What drugs are available for MART
- Personalised asthma action plans
- Safety and monitoring
This information will support those working in primary care to understand and effectively introduce patients to a MART regimen. It accompanied the launch of a MART action plan and top tips article, which are also available via the PCRS website.
Speakers
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Katherine Hickman
Katherine qualified from Leeds University in 2000. She originally did a Medicine Rotation acquiring her MRCP before settling into General Practice. She is a GP Partner in Bradford. Katherine is the Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire ICB, Primary Care Clinical Lead for the National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP), and Chair of PCRS. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, baking, yoga, and outdoor swimming and has recently rediscovered her love for singing and joined a choir. -
Noreen Grant
I am a GP with a specialist interest in respiratory medicine, based in South Birmingham. My passion for respiratory medicine began whilst working in Australia, and I returned to the UK to begin specialist training in respiratory in secondary care. I changed career track when I decided that primary care was where I wanted to be, and so I subsequently qualified as a GP. Since then, I have been able to develop my expertise in respiratory medicine by working in the South Doc Services respiratory diagnostic hub, covering seven PCNs in South Birmingham. I really enjoy the range of pathologies we encounter, which reflects the diversity of Birmingham’s population. Outside of work I’m a proud mum to two young boys, and love to cook whenever I can, particularly outdoors!
Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) asthma action plan
Maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) is a treatment for asthma where a single combined inhaler is used for both maintenance and reliever purposes, instead of having separate preventer (brown) and reliever (blue) inhalers.
Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) top tips article
Now is the time to make MART moves for asthma. We have been using the separate blue (reliever) and brown (preventer) inhalers for far too long. The National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) came out a decade ago, yet as a nation, we still have the highest asthma death rate in Europe. This is unsurprising, considering many patients still rely on their blue inhalers alone. However,
Tailoring Inhaler Devices
Inhalation is the main route for administration of drugs for conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The advantage of administering drugs by inhaler is that drugs are delivered directly to the site of action within the airways. The onset of action is rapid and systemic adverse effects are minimised. However, for an inhaler to be effective the correct drug must be prescribed and the device must be used correctly. Poor inhaler technique is common.
We are grateful to Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd for sponsoring PCRS in the development of resources for the Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) in asthma project. The sponsor has had no input into the resource content.
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