The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44841

Jude Taylor-Fishwick, MPH¹, Frances D. Butterfoss, PhD¹, Cynthia Kelly, MD², and Debra A. Major, PhD³. (1) Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Center for Pediatric Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 W. Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-668-6359, taylorj@chkd.com, (2) Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507, (3) Psychology Department, Old Dominion University, 250 Mills Godwin Building, Norfolk, VA 23529

Background: Allies Against Asthma, a workgroup of the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), conducted a comprehensive asthma needs and resource assessment in Hampton Roads, Virginia in 2001. Methods: Parents of asthmatic children were surveyed in Head Start (HS) centers and emergency departments (ED). Focus groups of school nurses, physicians and parents were also conducted. Results: HS Parent Survey: Asthma prevalence within HS centers was 18%. Over 45% of these asthmatic children visited the ED during the previous year and many received their primary care in the ED. 30% had been previously hospitalized with asthma. The majority (66%) used a quick relief medication; only 18% used a long-term controller medication. ED Parent Survey: The children served were predominately African American and under 12 years of age. Respondents made 2 to 6 visits to the ED during the previous year and over 50% of children came to the ED (instead of their physicians) when they experienced signs and symptoms of asthma. Over 33% had run out of medication and 50% did not have a spacer device at school. Focus Groups: Content analysis revealed consistent themes regarding barriers and solutions to effective pediatric asthma management. Major themes among all groups included: the need for more asthma education, low income and lack of resources, lack of consistent care, disparities in insurance coverage, and awareness of and compliance with asthma (NHLBI) guidelines. Conclusion: In response to these data, a comprehensive, integrated community-wide asthma action plan was developed and interventions commenced in January 2002.

Learning Objectives:

• To be made aware of asthma specific data collected through a coalition approach
• To consider how the data relates to practice

Keywords: Community Health Assessment, Community Participation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.