Asthma Essentials

The challenge:

Asthma remains a major health concern in the UK, affecting 5.4 million people, including 1.1 million children. Each year, the condition leads to approximately 60,000 emergency hospital admissions, placing a significant burden on the NHS.

For patients with severe, poorly controlled asthma, effective management requires more than just medication—it demands education, self-management skills, and ongoing support. However, there has been a critical gap in patient-centred asthma education, leaving many without the knowledge or confidence to manage their condition effectively.

The solution:

To bridge this gap, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, led by Professor Anoop Chauhan, partnered with Cognitant Group Ltd. to develop ESMENA, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary asthma education programme.

ESMENA combines face-to-face clinical education with digital learning tools, ensuring patients receive structured, ongoing support to improve their asthma control. The programme includes:

• A four-hour in-person education session covering:
  • The science of asthma
  • Treatment strategies and inhaler techniques
  • Managing comorbidities
  • Personalised asthma action plans
• A digital education platform, developed in collaboration with Cognitant, offering:
  • Seven concise, easy-to-understand videos on key asthma management topics
  • Interactive microlearning (quizzes, gamification, and rewards)
  • Trusted online resources for additional support

 

The results and Impact:

Between May and November 2022, 57 patients participated in the ESMENA programme, with 51 completing the 12-month follow-up. The cohort, with an average age of 57.7 years (78% female), demonstrated significant improvements in both clinical and patient-reported outcomes:

✅ Enhanced asthma control and overall quality of life
✅ Reduced exacerbation frequency
✅ Fewer emergency department visits and hospital admissions
✅ Improved Type 2 biomarker levels

Additionally, 25% of patients were escalated to biologic therapy, facilitated by insights gained through the programme. The remaining 75% experienced meaningful benefits without requiring treatment escalation.

Patient feedback highlighted increased confidence in understanding their treatment plans and greater ability to self-manage their condition, reinforcing the programme’s role in empowering patients with severe asthma.

The Role of Digital Learning

The digital component of ESMENA, developed in partnership with Cognitant, played a crucial role in providing patients with:

• Continuous access to educational resources, allowing them to revisit key topics at their own pace
• A user-friendly experience that makes learning more engaging and interactive
• A bridge between clinic visits, ensuring long-term support for self-management

Dr Tim Ringrose, CEO of Cognitant, added:
“We are proud to have supported the development of the digital elements of the ESMENA programme. Empowering patients with knowledge and providing them with tools they can easily access at home is key to effective long-term asthma management.”

For more information on this or other programmes developed by Cognitant, book a demo.