Health care providers are increasingly shifting asthma management from treating acute attacks to achieving symptom control to return patients to full functioning and improve their quality of life. Assessment instruments have been developed that quantify asthma patients' symptom control and quality of life. Several instruments are described in this review in terms of domains, psychometric qualities, ease of use, and ability to accurately reflect patients' overall condition. Problems with applicability and feasibility have limited the use of currently available instruments mainly to research settings or sporadic use in selected practices, generally leaving clinicians without the potential benefits of such tools to aid their routine clinical management of patients.