Experiences addressing health-related financial challenges with disease management among African American women with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
Despite economic hardship, compliance with self-management regimens is still evident among individuals and families managing chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to describe how women with asthma address cost-related challenges to management of their condition.


METHODS
In 2012 and 2013, four focus groups were conducted in Southeast Michigan with 26 African American women with asthma, recruited based on maximum variation sampling procedures. A semi-structured interview protocol was employed by trained facilitators. Coded transcripts were analyzed for themes regarding means to reduce the impact of the cost of asthma management.


RESULTS
Major themes identified were acceptance of the status quo; stockpiling and sharing medicines; utilizing community assistance programs; reaching out to healthcare providers and social networks for help; foregoing self-management; and utilizing urgent care.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of strategies that are helpful to patients in reducing out-of-pocket costs may better equip service providers and others to develop interventions to make useful strategies more widely available.
Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health , Ann Arbor, MI , USA and.
Minal R
MR
Patel
Cleopatra H
CH
Caldwell
Effat
E
Id-Deen
Noreen M
NM
Clark
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care
Adherence; asthma; barriers; disparities; self-management