Abstract
Asthma management is not always optimal, and deficiencies such as inadequate treatment and insufficient patient education are often reported. Towards Excellence in Asthma Management (TEAM) is a four-phase disease management program of the Quebec Asthma Education Network (QAEN), to be carried out over a 5-year period. The program aims to achieve a continuous improvement of asthma management by caregivers and patients. The first phase, completed in January 2000, consisted of determining the actual level of asthma-associated morbidity and mortality in various Quebec regions. The second phase, which began in September 1999, included three parts:
Definition of the burden of asthma, taking into account the socioeconomic consequences of the disease and the quality of life of the patients
Comparison of current medical practices with the Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines for adult and pediatric populations
Evaluation of the level of compliance with medical treatment and with the environmental changes recommended to asthmatic patients.