title: Neighborhood racial composition and availability of asthma drugs in retail pharmacies.
abstract: This study investigated whether there may be differences in the availability of asthma drugs and equipment in retail pharmacies in nonwhite and white neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. We conducted a telephone survey of a random sample of 38 retail pharmacies in predominately black or white neighborhoods. No differences in the reported availability of asthma drugs and equipment by neighborhood were found, although there was variability in availability of certain asthma drugs and limited availability of asthma equipment. Low demand was the most frequent reason cited by pharmacists regarding why asthma drugs or equipment were not in stock.
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia 20007, USA. sms59@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Spernak
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.forename: Harry B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Mrinalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadkari
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faselis
authors.forename: Jill G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D004219:District of Columbia; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents