Recorded presentation

Barbara M. Kaplan, MPH, CHES, Program Services, American Lung Association, 1150 18th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036, 202-785-3355, bkaplan@lungusadc.org

Asthma remains a health problem of staggering proportions. One of the basic steps that can be taken toward asthma management is asthma education. While there are numerous programs and initiatives targeting children with asthma, there is a lack of comparable focus on the needs of adult asthmatics. The goal of the American Lung Association’s three-year Reducing the Burden of Asthma in Adults project is to adopt and disseminate a validated asthma management education program. The conclusion of year one of the project identified the educational needs of adults with asthma, identified and analyzed existing adult asthma education programs, and finally the selection of at least one adult asthma education program that is best suited to adaptation and dissemination. The program will be available in Fall, 2006.

This project is important for many reasons, one of which is the outcome – disseminating a validated and relevant health education program to educate adults on how to better manage their asthma. However, there were many obstacles in completing just year one of this grant project. Thus, it is important to share the process of the adoption and adaptation of this health education intervention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize existing beliefs and practices in diverse communities of adults with asthma including information about trusted messengers, practical delivery mechanisms, and barriers to compliance and behavior change.
• Identify the needs of adults with asthma.
• Assess existing adult asthma education initiatives and analyze the program selection process.

Keywords: Asthma, Patient Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Academy for Educational Development, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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.

Recorded presentation