title: Use of emergency departments and primary care visits for asthma related conditions in the 3 years following an asthma education program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines changes in Primary Care Visits (PCVs) and Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) among 1918 patients with asthma who attended either two visits, one visit or were no-show referrals at the Dr. Patrick Gill Asthma Education Center (AEC) in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island (PEI) between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2008 compared to 2799 controls selected from a list of PEI asthma patients developed for the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hurdle regression was used to model counts of PCVs and negative binomial models were used to model counts of EDVs at 12 months prior to AEC contact and 0-1, >1 to 2 and >2 to 3 years after AEC contact. The PEI Research Board approved the project.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No-show referrals had a significant increase in pediatric EDVs and PCVs in the first year after referral. The higher rates of PCVs and EDVs prior to contact with the AEC in patients referred to the AEC were reduced after contact with the AEC, although they remained significantly higher than the CCDSS controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to patients who attended the AEC, referred patients who did not attend the AEC did not achieve similar reductions in pediatric EDVs and PCVs in the first year after referral.
authors: Consulting Epidemiologist, Kincardine , ON , Canada .
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Gaudreau
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Stryhn
authors: Carolyn
authors: C
authors: Sanford
authors: Connie
authors: C
authors: Cheverie
authors: Janette
authors: J
authors: Conklin
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: Hansen
authors: Mitchell
authors: M
authors: Zelman
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: McClure
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult