Asthma is a disease characterized by fluctuation in symptom severity which often requires alterations in management in response to symptom changes. Patient awareness and skill in decision making is important for effective self-management of asthma. Patient education helps patients to develop these skills. However, patient education that is based solely on general asthma information is not effective in improving patient self-management. Individual management plans improve patient outcomes in asthma. These asthma management plans give clear guidelines about how and when the patient should vary medication. They provide a basis for discussion and improved communication between the patient and health-care professionals. Management plans use severity of symptoms or peak flow measurements to guide patient action. They also address the concerns of asthma patients, e.g. the need to know how to control their symptoms and to understand how to use their own medication.