During a routine check-up, a 35-year-old female patient with a history of asthma reports increased use of her rescue inhaler. The medical assistant decides to measure her peak expiratory flow rate. Which of the following steps is crucial before instructing the patient on how to perform the test?
Explain the connection between bronchodilator usage and increased peak flow rate readings.
Ensure the peak flow meter is set to zero before the patient takes her measurement.
Discuss with the patient her most recent spirometry results to predict her peak expiratory flow rate.
Establish the patient's 'personal best' peak expiratory flow by finding the highest reading from previous measurements.