title: Communication and education about triggers and environmental control strategies during pediatric asthma visits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent to which providers, caregivers, and pediatric asthma patients discussed environmental trigger control during primary care visits, and any demographic characteristics associated with having these discussions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children ages 8-16 with persistent asthma and their caregivers were recruited at five pediatric practices in non-urban areas of North Carolina. All of the medical visits were audio-tape recorded. We administered questionnaires to the child's caregiver following the visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and ninety-six patients had useable audio-tape data. Providers typically discussed at least one type of asthma trigger during these visits (86% of visits). The most common discussions were about exercise (70%), the weather/season (42%), and allergies/pollen (35%). Environmental control strategies were discussed less frequently (27% of visits). Providers educated the patient and their caregiver about environmental control strategies during 14% of the visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although providers frequently discuss some environmental triggers and provide education, there is room for more comprehensive discussions of these issues, which may contribute to decreased asthma exacerbations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providers, or alternatively, asthma health educators, should devote more time to discussing environmental asthma triggers and control strategies with pediatric asthma patients and their families, as they are important components of overall asthma control.
authors: Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, USA. deidre@email.unc.edu
authors: Deidre
authors: D
authors: Washington
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Yeatts
authors: Betsy
authors: B
authors: Sleath
authors: Guadalupe X
authors: GX
authors: Ayala
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Gillette
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Williams
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Davis
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Tudor
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002 Mar;156(3):258-64
references: 11876670
references: Behav Res Methods. 2005 Feb;37(1):165-9
references: 16097357
references: Am J Public Health. 2010 Mar;100(3):540-6
references: 19696386
references: J Asthma. 2006 Jun-Jul;43(5):369-74
references: 16801141
references: Pediatrics. 1997 Sep;100(3 Pt 1):334-41
references: 9282702
references: Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2007 May 15;64(10):1054-61
references: 17494905
references: J Asthma. 2009 Aug;46(6):564-76
references: 19657896
references: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010 Feb;104(2):125-31
references: 20306815
references: J Asthma. 2009 Sep;46(7):642-6
references: 19728197
references: Aust J Prim Health. 2010;16(1):75-80
references: 21133302
references: J Asthma. 2001 Apr;38(2):141-7
references: 11321684
references: Am J Public Health. 2009 Nov;99 Suppl 3:S657-65
references: 19890172
references: J Pediatr. 1999 Sep;135(3):332-8
references: 10484799
references: Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Nov;85(2):286-9
references: 20971603
references: Pediatrics. 2009 Mar;123 Suppl 3:S131-45
references: 19221156
references: Drugs. 2009 Jun 18;69(9):1189-204
references: 19537836
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000 Sep;154(9):923-8
references: 10980797
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Mar;125(3):521-6; quiz 527-8
references: 20226288
references: J Asthma. 2010 Aug;47(6):633-8
references: 20632916
references: Pediatrics. 2004 Oct;114(4):1049-55
references: 15466104
references: J Asthma. 2007 Nov;44(9):735-8
references: 17994403