ASTHMA

Pediatric Asthma Indoor Air Quality Improvement Project

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children in the US.   According to the Center of Disease Control, between 1980 and 1996, the prevalence of asthma in children has increased from 3.6% to 6.2% with children of low-income families experiencing a disproportionately higher morbidity and mortality due to asthma.  Often, an environmental trigger in the child's environment can cause an asthma attack.  Since the average person spends 90% of their time indoors, controlling for indoor environmental triggers is integral in helping a child control his/her asthma symptoms.  However, families are not well informed about environmental control of asthma, nor are they taught how to do it.  This could be explained by a focus on medical management of asthma that many providers are trained to give to patients.

The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved developed a curriculum targeted for primary care providers serving low-income, underserved populations about incorporating an environmental assessment as part of a comprehensive asthma management plan.  This educational session, developed with the guidance of an expert advisory committee uses the chronic care model to encourage a transdisciplinary approach to asthma care and team building between patients and providers.  The curriculum focuses on practical and realistic measures providers can offer to their patients for better control of environmental triggers of asthma, while remaining sensitive to cultural and linguistic issues.

The Pediatric Asthma Indoor Air Quality Improvement project was supported for 4 years through a cooperative agreement with the EPA, Indoor Environments Division.  If you or your organization is interested in hosting a training, please contact Lois Wessel for more information and fees for presentation.

ACU Staff

Lois Wessel, RN, FNP, Project Manager