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Encouraging thoughtful conversations between clinicians and patients who have received a diagnosis of asthma or COPD.
Asthma and COPD are among the most common chronic diseases in Canada. In fact, almost 4 million Canadians have a label of asthma, and over 2 million have a label of COPD. People who are diagnosed with asthma or COPD are usually prescribed inhalers (also known as puffers), but rarely recommended pulmonary function testing to confirm the diagnosis.
But did you know that some people on puffers do not actually have asthma or COPD? Studies show that more than 30% of Canadians diagnosed with asthma or COPD do not actually have the condition when formally tested.
Let’s Clear the Air aims to encourage thoughtful conversations between clinicians and patients who have received a diagnosis of asthma or COPD. The goal of this campaign is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test.
This campaign is led by Choosing Wisely Canada, the College of Family Physician of Canada, and the Canadian Thoracic Society and supported by the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the Family Physicians Airway Group of Canada, the Canadian Society of Internal Medicine, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists, Asthma Canada, COPD Canada, and the Lung Health Foundation.
Have you been told that you have asthma or prescribed an inhaler (puffer) for asthma, but never been tested?
Have you been told that you have COPD or prescribed an inhaler (puffer) for COPD, but never been tested?
An animated video on asthma and a breathing test called spirometry.
A clinician handout on why lung function testing is essential when suspecting asthma or COPD.
Join Choosing Wisely Talks on June 8 at 12 p.m. ET to learn more about lung function testing for asthma and COPD.
A series hosted by the Lung Health Foundation on spirometry testing for diagnosing asthma and COPD in primary care.