Asthma prevention in urbanites.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this intervention was to evaluate the efficacy of low-literacy asthma education and the provision of free asthma controller medications to persons living in the urban inner-city.


METHODS
The intervention was conducted as a series of three studies. A health educator from the Johnson Health Center (JHC) performed chart reviews in the first two studies to identify urban asthma patients with frequent emergency department (ED) visits. The third study evaluated participants from the community-at-large who came to the ED for episodic asthma care. Free controller medications and education were provided to participants in all three studies.


RESULTS
Emergency department utilization, inpatient admissions, and consumer medical costs were greatly reduced in all three studies during the 5-year intervention period. Lung function improved, and participants reported an improved quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The provision of free asthma controller medications resulted in greatly improved asthma management and reduced costs. There was no evidence that an asthma education component per se produced any of the changes.
Houck
Peter W
PW
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Medical School, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. papadoc7@aol.com
Whitehouse
Francis R
FR
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D017664:Uncompensated Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents