There are several important problems associated with measuring ‘real-life’ outcomes in disease management (DM) programmes, according to Dr Bert van Oekelen from Glaxo Wellcome, The Netherlands. At PharmEcon ′97 [Paris, France; June 1997], he noted that even if ‘real-life’ outcomes measures are obtained, researchers can still have problems gaining acceptance of their findings. At the meeting, Dr van Oekelen suggested some ways to increase the likelihood of acceptance of such outcomes data, including the participation of all healthcare players in the disease management programme. To illustrate these ideas, he outlined how Glaxo Wellcome in The Netherlands has overcome numerous challenges in implementing an asthma self-management pilot programme, and has generated some positive ‘real-life’ health outcomes.