The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56163

Lesley A. Brabyn, MA, Asthma Education & Resource Council, 5 Bon Air Rd., Suite 110, Larkspur, CA 94939, 415-924-3647, timaru@earthlink.net and Lori A. Lott, PhD, Research, Asthma Education & Resource Council, 5 Bon Air Rd., Suite 110, Larkspur, CA 94939.

Lost productivity due to uncontrolled asthma is a growing concern among employers. Although research validates the benefits resulting from the preventive management of this chronic disease, implementation of educational programs remains sporadic and participation by patients disappointing. Teaching patients to update their expectations remains a major challenge to health and wellness and many patients, despite daily symptoms, believe that their asthma is controlled. Developing strategies for reaching those with outdated beliefs and teaching them proactive management skills is critical if asthma prevention is to be successful. To address this problem, a pilot intervention was implemented at the corporate headquarters of a major employer. Asthma wellness promotion and a series of on-site asthma classes was implemented Participants (N=27) completed a baseline questionnaire at the beginning of the on-site intervention and a follow-up six months later. Health care utilization, symptom frequency, absenteeism, medication use, provider satisfaction and quality of life were compared for pre and post periods. Despite the fact that these were working employees of a major corporation, during the four weeks prior to the program, well over half did not meet the National Institutes of Health criteria for controlled asthma in terms of symptom frequency. Post intervention, 95% of program participants reported symptoms less than twice a week and only 15% were being awakened more than three times a month with asthma. The findings are discussed in relation to the NIH Asthma Guidelines and strategies outlined for implementing community-based asthma wellness programs in the workplace.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• Apply national best practice guidelines to assessing the health status of patients with asthma,
• Articulate six strategies for assisting patients with asthma to achieve the treatment goals of therapy,
• Develop a plan for applying health promotion strategies to the workplace.

Keywords: Asthma, Worksite

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.