Workshop 101 - Unravelling Chronic Cough: Diagnosis, Management, And Patient Impact

101 Unravelling Chronic Cough: Diagnosis, Management, and Patient Impact

Chronic cough can be more than just a symptom — for many patients, it’s a condition that significantly impacts quality of life. In this interactive workshop, we’ll unpack the complexity of chronic cough through real-world scenarios and collaborative problem-solving.

Participants will work through patient cases that reflect the diagnostic challenges, overlapping etiologies, and treatment dilemmas often encountered in clinical practice. Together, we’ll explore guideline-based approaches, tools to differentiate cough types, and patient-centered strategies to manage both the physical and emotional toll of chronic cough.

This session emphasizes group discussion, critical thinking, and shared learning — so come ready to participate, reflect, and take home practical strategies you can apply right away.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the most common and less common causes of chronic cough using a structured, evidence-informed diagnostic approach.
• Differentiate between upper airway, lower airway, and non-respiratory sources of chronic cough through case-based discussion.
• Apply current clinical guidelines and best practices in the management of chronic cough, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic options.
• Collaborate with peers in analyzing complex patient scenarios to enhance clinical reasoning and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Facilitators: Janet Philpott RRT CRE CTE & Janel Carley RRT CRE CTE

Workshop 102 - What's Your Next Move? Interactive Complex Respiratory Cases

This interactive workshop provides an in-depth exploration of complex respiratory diseases, focusing on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and evidence-based management strategies. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of chronic and multifactorial conditions, such as severe asthma, COPD exacerbations, and complications related to high dose corticosteroid use, including adrenal suppression. Emphasis will be placed on clinical reasoning, multidisciplinary approaches, the integration of diagnostics such as imaging and spirometry testing, and the development of case management strategies that emphasize the pivotal role of Respiratory Therapists (RTs) in supporting patients with high healthcare system use, ongoing respiratory needs, and transitions across care settings. Case-based discussions and practical tools will empower healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes in real-world settings.

This workshop also emphasizes the critical role of high-quality spirometry testing in diagnosing and monitoring respiratory conditions. Participants will learn how to interpret spirometry results adequately and understand the technical and procedural standards to ensure reliable data. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the workshop includes diagnostics, pharmacologic therapies, and patient-centered care strategies to improve outcomes and reduce complications. 

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the clinical features and diagnostic criteria of complex respiratory diseases including:
  • Severe and difficult-to-treat asthma
  • COPD with frequent exacerbations
• Identify patients at risk for adrenal suppression due to prolonged or high-dose corticosteroid use (oral, inhaled, or parenteral), particularly in Asthma and COPD.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and understand how to diagnose it using clinical and biochemical tools.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including respirologists, respiratory therapists, endocrinologists, allergists, primary care providers, pharmacists, and social workers for integrated, longitudinal, coordinated patient care.
• Emphasize awareness of high system utilization (e.g., frequent admissions, multiple specialists).
• Manage advanced pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, including pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation counselling, and oxygen therapy.
• Describe the critical importance of high-quality spirometry testing, including:
  • Indications and contraindications
  • Criteria for acceptable and repeatable results (ATS/ERS standards)
  • Interpretation of key parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio)
  • Common technical errors and how to avoid them
• Interpret spirometry results in the context of clinical presentation to support accurate diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression or treatment response.

Facilitator: Ellen Michaud RRT CRE

Workshop 103 - Cannabis In Care: Perspectives On Cannabis Use In Youth And Adults

Cannabis use is becoming increasingly common among both youth and adults, with evolving perceptions of risk and growing therapeutic interest. However, for respiratory and tobacco educators, cannabis use presents a complex and often under-discussed layer in client care, including unintended consequences of switching from combustible products.

Participants will learn the various effects and health harms associated with different types and modes of cannabis use, and the implications this may have on their practice and health education.  We will review cannabis potency trends, rates of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), and discuss different screening tools to assess for cannabis use disorder (CUD). We will also discuss different types of medications that cannabis can interact with, including contraindications of use.

Participants will review rates of cannabis use and harms affecting the youth population. We will touch on factors that influence youth use and ways to prevent use and introduce a new handbook for parents that educators can use in their practice. Finally, we will apply the knowledge gained in this workshop towards real-life case studies to develop collaborative care plans that balance health goals with client autonomy and therapeutic use.

Learning Objectives

• List the considerations and harms associated with different types of cannabis products.
• Describe how cannabis can impact the effects of concurrent medication use.
• List screening tools for CUD.
• Describe rates of use and harms associated with youth cannabis use.
• List tools and principles to support the prevention of youth substance use.
• Apply harm-reduction approaches and client-centred communication strategies to effectively address cannabis use in clinical practice.

Facilitators: Michelle Fry & Jamil Ramji BSP PharmD ACPR CTE

Workshop 104 - Oxygen Therapy At Home: Navigating The Challenges Of COPD Care

Managing COPD in the home setting presents complex challenges for healthcare providers, especially when oxygen therapy is involved. This interactive workshop will explore current best practices in home-based COPD management, with a particular focus on improving patient safety, addressing disparities, and empowering educators to better support their clients.

A key component of the session will highlight the role of thermal fuses in preventing oxygen-related fires—especially among patients who smoke or have cognitive impairments such as dementia. Despite their proven safety benefits, thermal fuses are not mandated in any Canadian jurisdiction. The workshop will present a cost-benefit analysis and practical strategies for incorporating oxygen safety into patient education, with an emphasis on real-world implementation by Certified Respiratory Educators (CREs) and Certified Tobacco Educators (CTEs).

Participants will also engage in case-based discussions around COPD management in populations facing socioeconomic barriers, polypharmacy risks, and multi-morbidity. You'll leave this session better equipped to address both the clinical and social dimensions of COPD care at home.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe best practices in home-based COPD management, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
• Explain the function of thermal fuses and their importance in preventing oxygen-related fires in high-risk populations.
• Interpret cost-benefit data supporting the use of thermal fuses in home oxygen therapy.
• Identify key risk factors—including cognitive impairment and income disparity—that impact safe COPD management at home.
• Develop patient-centered education strategies to improve COPD self-management and promote oxygen safety.
• Advocate for system-level changes that support equitable access to safety-enhancing technologies in home oxygen therapy.

Facilitator: Jesse Haddock BSc RRT CCSH RPSGT FCSRT

Worshop 105 - Breathe In The Data: Leveraging A Respiratory Database To Uncover Alpha-1

This interactive workshop will guide respiratory educators through the effective implementation and use of respiratory databases in clinical settings. Participants will explore best practices for database design, optimization, and analytics to enhance patient care. Emphasis will be placed on using database insights to support the early identification of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT), improve communication with healthcare teams, and facilitate clinical trial recruitment.

Learning Objectives

·       Describe the key features and functions of a respiratory health database and its relevance in clinical practice.

·       Apply best practices for implementing, optimizing, and using respiratory databases to support quality patient care.

·       Identify how database insights can support the early detection of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT) in at-risk populations.

·       Discuss current evidence-based approaches to managing and treating A1AT following diagnosis, including referral pathways, augmentation therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

Facilitators: Amin Thawer RRT CRE CPSCT & Jeanna Townsend BSc RRT CRE

Workshop 201 - Mindfulness For Quitting Smoking: Disrupting Automatic Behaviours Through Awareness

Quitting smoking is challenging, but combining behavioral strategies with medication can significantly increase the chances of success. One evidence-informed behavioral approach is mindfulness, a technique that can be practiced almost anywhere and taught to anyone. Mindfulness helps individuals become more aware of their thoughts, urges, and automatic behaviors, including the impulse to smoke.

One of the major challenges in quitting smoking is managing cravings, which is often driven by the brain's desire for stimulation of dopamine receptors. Cigarettes which provide nicotine offer a fast way to meet this need. However, mindfulness-based activities can help create space between the urge to smoke and the act of smoking. Over time, this practice can reduce the intensity and frequency of cravings.

This interactive workshop will explore how mindfulness can support smoking cessation. Participants will learn how the definition of mindfulness, how it helps disrupt automatic behaviors, and how to perform simple, practical mindfulness techniques to manage cravings and build resilience during the quitting process.

Learning Objectives

• Define mindfulness.
• Describe the role of mindfulness in addressing  automatic behaviours.
• Practice mindfulness techniques that can be applied during moments of craving or stress.

Facilitator: Olsen Jarvis RRT CRE

Workshop 202 - Effective Facilitation Of Group Behaviour Change

This interactive session equips participants with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to effectively facilitate group-based behaviour change, with a focus on reducing and stopping commercial tobacco use. Grounded in the principles of adult education, the session explores the differences between facilitation and presentation, emphasizing the critical role of the facilitator in creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering group environment. One of the strategies we will discuss is the importance of creating consensus group rules during the first session of any new group.

Participants will examine the core responsibilities of facilitators in empowering group members to learn from each other, provide peer support, problem solve, develop skills needed for behaviour change.

Facilitators will learn how to give participants space to process and sit in silence as an application of group motivational change. Through interactive activities, discussions, and real-world scenarios, participants will gain hands-on experience with facilitation techniques, address common challenges, and explore adaptations for different group settings such as virtual and in-person formats.

This workshop will also explore how to co-design approaches to align with the specific population you are working with. Participants will have an opportunity to select the interactive facilitation strategies they wish to practice through a menti.com vote at the beginning of the workshop.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the principles of adult education and how they apply to group-based behaviour change.
• Identify the primary roles and responsibilities of a facilitator.
• Discuss how to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive group environment.
• Describe the importance of trauma-informed practice in any interaction with a client.
• Demonstrate core facilitation skills through applied practice.
• Recognize and respond to common facilitation challenges, including group dynamics, conflict, and disengagement.
• Discuss how to adapt facilitation approaches to meet the needs of both in-person and virtual groups.

Facilitators: Darrel Melvin RRT MEd CRE CTE & Cindy Slack BHSc RRT CRE CTE

Workshop 203 - €�I Know I Should, But…”: Change Management Strategies That Work

Change is hard. As educators, we ask our patients/clients/participants to consider change, and often several changes to improve their health and to manage their chronic diseases:

• Quit Smoking
• Exercise more
• Take your medicine every day
• And more!

This can be an overwhelming ask for some.  Join Elyssa and Angie as they review strategies for supporting behaviour change including Goal Setting, Self-Management principles, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Bring your most challenging cases and let's work together to create supportive change strategies.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the common psychological and emotional barriers that make behaviour change difficult for patients managing chronic disease.
• Describe key behaviour change strategies, including goal setting, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, and self-management support.
• Apply motivational interviewing techniques to engage patients in conversations about change in a respectful, collaborative way.
• Integrate self-management and goal-setting tools into patient education to promote realistic and sustainable health behavior changes.
• Analyze challenging patient scenarios to develop individualized, supportive change strategies in a clinical or educational setting.
• Build confidence in using a person-centred approach that meets patients where they are in their readiness to change.

Facilitators: Angie Shaw RRT CRE & Elyssa Mountain RKin CRE

Workshop 204 - Unravelling The Person With COPD: A Holistic Approach In Self-Management Education

Facilitator: Jennifer Dunham-Schneider RN BScN CHWC CRE

When it comes to supporting people who live with COPD, we typically focus on the traditional approach to self-management education. This approach uses assessment of symptoms, exacerbations, adherence, infection prevention and tobacco cessation, as the cornerstone of COPD respiratory support. There are, however, other considerations which impact how an individual manages and lives with their COPD.

Holistic elements of wellness significantly impact a person’s COPD self-management success. When we consider elements such as Nourishment, Mindset, Relationships and Finances, we take a broader, more holistic approach to support the individuals to live as well as possible, with not only their COPD, but with other comorbidities and other parts of their life. These elements are four key holistic factors that influence how all of us feel and manage every day. Each element plays a part and influences the others. When supporting people to live better and more healthy lives, as they manage COPD, both traditional and holistic approaches are necessary.

In this workshop, we will dive into discussing how the holistic elements of Nourishment, Relationships, Mindset and Finances influence how a person with COPD manages on a day to day, week to week basis.

Learning Objectives:

• Compare and contrast traditional and holistic approaches to COPD self-management education.
• Discuss questions which help you as a Health Provider explore elements of wellness which may be impacting an individual’s self-management success.
• Identify which other members of your health care team can play a role with interprofessional practice collaboration around specific individuals with COPD.
• Apply current COPD Guidelines, and a holistic wellness approach, using a case study example.

Workshop 205 - Tiny Lungs, Big Challenges: Tackling Paediatric Asthma Together

Managing asthma in children and adolescents means more than prescribing puffers — it means navigating a web of homes, schools, caregivers, and complex social dynamics. In this highly interactive, case-based workshop, participants will work through real-world pediatric asthma scenarios that highlight the daily challenges faced by families and healthcare providers.

Together, we’ll explore how to apply current CTS and GINA guidelines in a practical setting and dive into the realities of treatment barriers like adherence, environmental triggers, and inconsistent care across households. Participants will collaborate in small groups to analyze cases, brainstorm solutions, and share strategies they’ve used in their own practice.

Whether you’re new to pediatric care or a seasoned educator, this workshop will leave you with practical, patient-centered tools to support tiny lungs in a big world.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply CTS and GINA paediatric asthma guidelines to realistic case scenarios, identifying key points of divergence and how to choose appropriate approaches in clinical practice.
• Identify and problem-solve common barriers in paediatric asthma management, such as adherence challenges, environmental triggers, and multi-household care, using case-based examples.
• Collaborate with peers to develop tailored, family-centred care strategies that support asthma control in diverse real-world settings.
• Practice communication techniques for working with children, adolescents, and their caregivers to enhance understanding, engagement, and asthma self-management.

Dr. Mary Noseworthy