The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program

Established in 1989, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , raises awareness about asthma as a major public health problem, develops clinical practice guidelines and other supportive materials based on the latest scientific evidence, and uses multiple strategies to enhance guidelines implementation. At its core is a coordinating committee composed of professional, medical, and lay health organizations as well federal agencies working collaboratively to address the growing problem of asthma in the United States.

The goals of the NAEPP are to:

• Raise awareness of patients, health professionals, and the public that asthma is a serious chronic disease.
• Ensure the recognition of the symptoms of asthma by patients, families, and the public and the appropriate diagnosis by health professionals.
• Ensure effective control of asthma by encouraging a partnership among patients, physicians, and other health professionals through modern treatment and education programs.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, health professional, policymaker, or member of the general public, you also have a critical role in achieving the NAEPP’s ultimate goal: to enhance the quality of life for individuals with asthma and to decrease asthma-related morbidity and mortality.

That’s why the NAEPP launched the National Asthma Control Initiative (NACI) in 2008 based on the recommendations of its Guidelines Implementation Panel (GIP) Report—Partners Putting Guidelines Into Action. The GIP Report offers useful strategies for the widespread adoption of the latest asthma guidelines by multiple audiences. Use the GIP Report and additional NAEPP reports, materials, and tools to help you make a difference in the lives of people with asthma.