title: Findings from a community-based asthma education fair for Latino caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess limited English proficiency (LEP) asthma caregiver quality of life (QoL), skills retention and healthcare utilization after an asthma education fair (AEF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A language concordant AEF was conducted at a Latino community center. LEP caregivers of children 1-12 years old and an established asthma diagnosis participated in three skill stations: (a) medication recognition and administration, (b) peak flow use (if child ≥ 5 years) and (c) action plan dissemination. Spacers, peak flow meters and individualized action plans were distributed. A validated, pediatric asthma caregiver quality of life questionnaire (PACQLQ-Spanish version) was administered. Baseline data was compared to follow-up interview data at three and six months after the AEF. Mean PACQLQ scores were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and nominal paired data with McNemar's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed data from 18 caregivers able to speak English well (22%), not well (28%) or not at all (50%). After three months, improved caregiver QoL was experienced (51 vs. 72, p<0.01). No differences were observed in medication recognition, spacer and peak flow use or peak flow interpretation. After six months, mean school days missed due to asthma decreased (4.1 vs. 0.4, p<0.01). Mean clinic visits, emergency department visits and hospitalizations remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of a community-based AEF with action plan administration can be beneficial for LEP caregivers and their children. QoL improvements to emotional wellbeing and activity limitations were observed, and lower rates of school absenteeism were reported. Caregiver ability to accurately identify medications was not enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT , USA .
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riera
authors.forename: Agueda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ocasio
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krumeich
authors.forename: Karol H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trevino
authors.forename: Federico E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Vaca
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007802:Language; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
keywords: Asthma; Latino health; community-based participator research; pediatrics; quality of life