Improvements to physician and patient education, and the creation of holistic, personalised treatment plans have the potential to resolve many challenges with asthma management. Educating physicians ensures better prescribing practices, assessment of patients and adherence to guidelines, while patient education can prevent misconceptions about asthma management, reduce negative perceptions or stigma and improve adherence to personal care plans. Collaboration and shared decisionmaking between patients and their physicians should be encouraged, as it facilitates mutual learning and understanding, while allowing the care pathway to be more patient-centred, tailored and sensitive. Asthma guideline development and implementation should also consider the experiences and perspectives of stakeholders in the wider asthma community, especially general practitioners and patients.
The future of asthma treatment and management is promising. Innovations in digital health and technology provide an opportunity to increase access and affordability of care, and enhance selfmonitoring, patient knowledge and continuity of care, with great potential to significantly improve patient outcomes across the world. Increased attention to the negative environmental impacts of traditional asthma inhalers is causing momentous changes in how inhalers are designed and used, which can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of asthma. However, advances in treatment are not impactful enough on their own. Innovation should stand alongside meaningful global, regional and national action to address and advance all aspects of asthma prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control and management.