Can measurement of peak expiratory flow enhance compliance in chronic asthma?

Almost all patients with chronic asthma will derive benefit from self-measurement of PEF. Unquestionably, this is of value for educating patients about their disease and treatment, leading in turn to improved compliance. It will be several years before it becomes clear what proportion of patients are willing to manage their asthma themselves and are sufficiently competent in the interpretation of their measurement of PEF to do so safely. It remains to be seen what effect greater use of PEF measurement by patients will have upon present levels of morbidity and mortality from asthma.