Asthma prevention in urbanites.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this intervention was to evaluate the efficacy of low-literacy asthma education and the provision of free asthma controller medications to persons living in the urban inner-city. METHODS: The intervention was conducted as a series of three studies. A health educator from the Johnson Health Center (JHC) performed chart reviews in the first two studies to identify urban asthma patients with frequent emergency department (ED) visits. The third study evaluated participants from the community-at-large who came to the ED for episodic asthma care. Free controller medications and education were provided to participants in all three studies. RESULTS: Emergency department utilization, inpatient admissions, and consumer medical costs were greatly reduced in all three studies during the 5-year intervention period. Lung function improved, and participants reported an improved quality of life. CONCLUSION: The provision of free asthma controller medications resulted in greatly improved asthma management and reduced costs. There was no evidence that an asthma education component per se produced any of the changes.