title: Young, African American adults with asthma: what matters to them?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is a common chronic condition that shows significant health disparities among minority populations. Little research has focused on the management needs and preferences of young African American adults with asthma, a population undergoing dramatic life changes as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the experiences and perspectives of young African American adults managing their asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted with African American adults (n = 34) 18 to 30 years old with a physician diagnosis of asthma. Focus group sessions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and coded using constant comparative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six major domains were identified and some of the salient themes included changes in asthma management needs with the onset of adulthood, career limitations owing to asthma, childcare interference with asthma regimen adherence, and difficulties with medication cost owing to lapses in insurance coverage. Participants also reported feeling discouraged when interacting with physicians as it related to their asthma care; yet ageism and racism were not perceived. Despite poor medication regimen compliance, participants were overwhelmingly interested in participating in asthma self-management programs and had strong preferences that such programs be tailored specifically to young adults with special consideration of the cultural experience of young African Americans with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young African American adults have specific barriers to optimal asthma care and distinctive ideas for self-management programs. It is important for the asthma care provider to identify and address these population- and age-specific barriers to improve asthma outcomes and decrease health care disparities.
authors: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: aleyton@med.umich.edu.
authors: Aimee L
authors: AL
authors: Speck
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: Belinda
authors: B
authors: Nelson
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: S Olivia
authors: SO
authors: Jefferson
authors: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: Alan P
authors: AP
authors: Baptist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D055815:Young Adult