Barriers to effective pediatric asthma care.
Although progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of asthma and identifying key features of quality asthma care, the prevalence of childhood asthma remains high. Barriers to effective asthma care that currently exist include the persistence of environmental risk factors, disparities in care that stem from poverty and cultural differences, and inconsistencies in the quality of asthma care provided by clinicians. Pediatric nurse practitioners at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital have actively implemented the recommended guidelines for asthma care and addressed causes for some of the disparities in asthma health care. Two major initiatives are described: the Asthma Care Coordination Project at Yale New Haven Hospital Pediatric Primary Care Center, and the establishment of an Asthma Outreach Program. Recommended resources and Web sites for the practitioner are also provided.
Swartz
Martha K
MK
Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, USA. martha.swartz@yale.edu
Banasiak
Nancy Cantey
NC
Meadows-Oliver
Mikki
M
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000191:economics; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016527:Drug Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents