ASCIA website information

Overview

To meet the challenge of increasing demand for high quality education and training in the areas of allergy and clinical immunology, ASCIA has developed a range or online resources and e-training courses that are available at no charge on the ASCIA website. These include:

• e-training courses for health professionals, schools and childcare staff and the community
• anaphylaxis resources, such as action plans, e-training and guidelines
• immunodeficiency information, such as treatment plans, e-training and position statements
• patient information
• health professional information

Most ASCIA resources are open access, meaning that anyone can access them, and either print them off and/or link to the webpage.  A limited number of resources are only available to ASCIA members, such as food allergen challenge and allergen immunotherapy protocols.

Policy

ASCIA resources are developed and peer reviewed by ASCIA members and based on expert opinion and the available published literature at the time of review. Information contained in ASCIA resources is not intended to replace medical advice and any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

Development of the content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by commercial organisations. Hence there are no conflicts of interest regarding the sources of funding and the editorial content of the website.

Support for specific projects (such as ASCIA e-training courses) from unrestricted educational grants is clearly identified, including the identities of commercial and non-commercial organisations that have contributed funding, services or material for the relevant webpages.

ASCIA does not allow its educational resources to be rebranded or uploaded onto other websites unless a licencing agreement has been approved.

However, ASCIA provides permission for appropriate organisations to:

• Link to ASCIA webpages to access ASCIA educational resources; and/or
• Quote directly from ASCIA webpages, with acknowledgement of the source.

For example, some organisations link to the following popular ASCIA webpages:

• ASCIA Anaphylaxis resources (including Action Plans and videos): www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis 
• ASCIA Immunodeficiency resources www.allergy.org.au/immunodeficiency 
• ASCIA Guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-prevention 

ASCIA resources are regularly updated, based on changes in the medical literature and expert reviews. By linking to the ASCIA webpages (and not directly to the PDFs) it ensures that only current versions are accessed.

Development and Review Process

ASCIA website information is:

• Developed by ASCIA committees or working parties, then peer reviewed by the ASCIA membership.
• Based on expert opinion and the available published medical literature at the time of review.
• Developed without any funding from commercial sources and is not influenced by commercial organisations.
• Regularly reviewed by ASCIA and updated where necessary, to ensure the content is consistent with current published medical literature.

Objectives

The objectives of ASCIA information for patients, consumers and carers are to:

• Create greater awareness and understanding of allergy, asthma and other immune diseases: their impact, and appropriate (medically and scientifically proven) management options.
• Help people recognise the symptoms of allergy, asthma and other immune diseases.
• Inform people of medically and scientifically proven methods for assessment, treatment and prevention.
• Improve the quality of life for people with allergy, asthma or other immune diseases.
• Assist patients, carers and their doctors to make informed choices about management of immune disorders.

Access

The ASCIA website is organised to allow easy access to the extensive range of ASCIA resources from desk top computer, a tablet/iPad or smart phone using a responsive template that adapts automatically to the device being used.

Members Access

ASCIA members have access to the password protected areas of the website through the login on the right menu of each web page in desk top mode.

The login module will appear further down the page in tablet/iPad/smart phone mode.

Select Login and the username and password fields will appear. If you have forgotten either your username or password these may be retrieved through the links in the login.

For further access assistance please use our Member feedback form.

Content updated January 2018