title: [Evaluation of an asthma control program in family health units].
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the asthma control program in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study, comparing a family health unit (USF) with a consolidated program with two USFs without one. Interviews were performed with 313 asthma patients, 168 from the USF with a consolidated program and 145 from the USFs without one. In the studied sample, there were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the use of bronchodilators and in the number of emergency department visits between the USF with and without a consolidated program. Among the patients enrolled in the USF with a consolidated program, 55.4% reported the use of bronchodilator, in comparison with 74.5% of those enrolled in the two USF without a consolidated program. Respectively 29.2% and 55.9% of the patients from the USFs with and without a consolidated program needed emergency department care. A well-organized asthma control program may result in reduction of emergency department visits due to asthma exacerbation, thus contributing to improving health indicators and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Diretoria de Ações em Saúde, Autarquia Municipal de Saúde, Londrina, Brasil. tatianecarmo@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Tatiane Almeida do
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.forename: Selma Maffei de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Alcindo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerci Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors