Smaart Guide

[Malka Sedano]

WHOenvisions a future where everyone in the world benefits fully and immediately from clinical, public health, and data-use recommendations. SMART Guidelines are a new approach to systematize and accelerate the consistent application of recommended, life-saving interventions in the digital age.

WHO guidelines articulate and endorse rigorously tested recommendations for health interventions to be adopted within country programs. When applied correctly and consistently, guideline recommendations save lives.

Use of SMART guidelines results in standards-based, interoperable systems that can share accurate data and become part of stronger, more sustainable health information systems. In digital systems, they improve quality of health content and facilitate consistent, standardized collection of data, appropriate decision support, and calculation of indicators across geographies. SMART guidelines reduce the risks associated with digital investments. They lower the cost of related software development, equipping governments with SMART software specifications to ensure vendors provide a minimum of functionality and quality content, in turn reducing potential for vendor lock-in.

WHO SMART Guidelines are now available for antenatal care, HIV, family planning, TB, and child health in humanitarian emergencies. SMART Guidelines for STI and immunization are in development and will be released soon.

The SMART Guideline programme of work is led by the Science Division and overseen by the Department of Digital health and innovation in partnership with the Department of Quality Assurance of Norms and Standards, and supported by the Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact.

SMART therapy is for patients with moderate to severe asthma who need a combination treatment. This combined treatment consists of an inhaled corticosteroid and an inhaled long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA).

Typical therapy involves using different inhalers for maintenance and reliever. With SMART therapy, it allows patients to use one inhaler for both. The maintenance dose can be adjusted based on the needs of the individual, but it is typically at least two doses a day (either two at once or one dose twice a day).

Typical relief inhalers contain only a bronchodilator. Maintenance medications often include an anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid. But with SMART therapy, the inhaler has both an anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid and a LABA. This is helpful as it means people are getting daily medicine to keep their airways open. And when they are experiencing symptoms, they are getting extra anti-inflammatories. This helps to reduce airway inflammation.

Under asthma guidelines, SMART therapy is recommended for people with moderate to severe asthma, including children ages 5 and older. In general, SMART therapy is considered an easier treatment plan to follow.

SMART therapy may also be considered as an as-needed treatment for mild asthma. Formoterol is a long-acting inhaled medication but it works quickly, similar to quick-relief albuterol. Researchers recently conducted a series of clinical trials called SYGMA (Symbicort Given as Needed in Mild Asthma). The clinical trials found the rate of severe asthma flares in adolescents (ages 12 to 18) and adults with mild asthma was significantly lower when using Symbicort as needed, instead of just a short-acting bronchodilator as needed.

To determine if SMART therapy is right for you or your child, consider Shared Decision-Making. In Shared Decision-Making, you partner with your doctor to decide the right treatment approach. The treatment approach is based on your asthma control, lifestyle and other healthcare needs and preferences. Then you work together to develop an Asthma Action Plan so you know what to do for treatment when symptoms occur.

Reviewed by:

Bradley Chipps, MD, FACAAI, is a board-certified allergist and pediatric pulmonologist with Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center in Sacramento, California. He earned his medical degree from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1972. He is Past President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

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Vague goals that lack clarity are often left undone, even if they have great potential. Transform fuzzy objectives into attainable goals with the SMART goals framework. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. In this article, we'll dive into why each element of the SMART goals acronym is essential and how to apply them to your own goals.

So, what are SMART goals? Fundamentally, SMART goals are a way of setting objectives that are clear, trackable, and achievable. The SMART goals acronym stands for five crucial qualities your goals should have:

When you're deliberating the meaning of SMART goals, think of them as a tool to transform lofty resolutions into a concrete roadmap. The SMART goals acronym can help you build a blueprint for success in personal and professional settings alike.

Writing SMART goals is all about breaking down your objectives into smaller, more manageable components that are easy to track and achieve. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to make the goal-setting process a breeze.

For example, instead of creating a goal to raise more money, you might create a goal to raise $20,000 by the end of the year. This is much more specific and gives you a roadmap to work off of. In this case, you can break down how much you need to raise each day to hit your goal and then create an action plan that enables you to hit that number every day.

Clarity towards project success. Have you ever gotten to the end of a project and not really known if you hit your project goals or not? SMART goals help you set clear goals, so you can avoid vague or confusing goal language.

Motivation and career development. When goals are achievable and relevant, it boosts team morale. It also creates opportunities for individual career development, as team members may need to acquire a new skill to meet their objectives.

Oversimplification. Although the SMART goal framework can be incredibly effective for clarifying objectives, it may also lead to the oversimplification of more intricate, multilayered goals. If your goal is complicated, consider breaking it down into smaller sub-goals before using the SMART framework.

Short-term focus. The emphasis on time-based objectives might discourage more visionary planning, especially around the long-term mission of your business. If this applies to your situation, try creating a vision statement instead.

Resource intensive. Smaller teams might feel a bit overwhelmed by the need for measurable outcomes. This is because tracking those metrics often requires investing time and money in specialized analytics tools.

Example, continued: Post once daily on Instagram, and ensure every post has a mixture of company-specific hashtags and popular hashtags in our industry in order to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers.

Example, continued: Post every workday on Instagram for the first half of FY22. Ensure every post has a mixture of company-specific hashtags and popular hashtags in our industry in order to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers by June 30th.

At the start of the project, make sure you surface your SMART goals to everyone involved in the work. Your SMART goals should guide your whole team as you work on project deliverables, so you know exactly whether or not you hit your project objectives.

Visualizing and tracking your goals both makes them easier to measure and achieve. In Asana, you can set, track, and report on your SMART goals all in one space. With the ability to connect with everyone on your team and share with stakeholders, you can coordinate everything you need to achieve your most ambitious goals.

The SMART goals acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. George T. Doran popularized this framework, which offers a methodical approach to setting goal-specific objectives. By following the SMART acronym, you're more likely to set specific goals that are both effective and achievable.

To write a SMART goal, begin by defining what you specifically want to accomplish. Next, determine how you'll measure success and ensure that your objective is attainable. Make sure the goal is relevant to your broader life or career ambitions. Finally, add a timeframe to create a sense of urgency. A well-crafted SMART goal might look like this: "I want to increase my LinkedIn network by 200 connections within the next three months."

The best SMART goals are those that are closely aligned with your own or your organization's broader aims, serving as stepping stones toward your ultimate goal. They should challenge you while still being achievable. These goals should be easily measurable and promote effective time management, allowing you to allocate resources wisely. For example, if career development is a priority, an excellent SMART goal could be "to complete an advanced course in digital marketing within the next six months."

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