OBJECTIVE: An asthma outreach worker (AOW) can provide home-based education about asthma management and methods to minimize home environmental asthma triggers. A theory-based AOW program was implemented by a community partnership and its effectiveness was evaluated. DESIGN: Baseline and follow-up surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the AOW. SAMPLE: The convenience sample consisted of 60 caregivers whose children received AOW services. MEASURES: Quality of life, use of asthma management plans, medication use, health care utilization, home environmental behavior changes to reduce triggers, and satisfaction with AOW services were self-reported by caregivers. RESULTS: Caregivers reported significantly higher quality of life at follow-up than at baseline. At follow-up, 93% of the children had asthma management plans as compared with 31% at baseline. Self-reported hospitalizations were significantly reduced. All of the families made changes to minimize household asthma triggers. Caregivers reported high satisfaction with the AOW and 90% of them felt that the home environmental assessment conducted by the AOW helped improve their child's asthma. CONCLUSION: Short-term community-based AOW services for children can be effective in enhancing self-management capabilities, improving the quality of life, increasing the use of asthma management plans, and helping families reduce asthma triggers in the home environment.
OBJECTIVE: An asthma outreach worker (AOW) can provide home-based education about asthma management and methods to minimize home environmental asthma triggers. A theory-based AOW program was implemented by a community partnership and its effectiveness was evaluated. DESIGN: Baseline and follow-up surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the AOW. SAMPLE: The convenience sample consisted of 60 caregivers whose children received AOW services. MEASURES: Quality of life, use of asthma management plans, medication use, health care utilization, home environmental behavior changes to reduce triggers, and satisfaction with AOW services were self-reported by caregivers. RESULTS: Caregivers reported significantly higher quality of life at follow-up than at baseline. At follow-up, 93% of the children had asthma management plans as compared with 31% at baseline. Self-reported hospitalizations were significantly reduced. All of the families made changes to minimize household asthma triggers. Caregivers reported high satisfaction with the AOW and 90% of them felt that the home environmental assessment conducted by the AOW helped improve their child's asthma. CONCLUSION: Short-term community-based AOW services for children can be effective in enhancing self-management capabilities, improving the quality of life, increasing the use of asthma management plans, and helping families reduce asthma triggers in the home environment.
Authors: Amanda Savage Brown; Sheri Disler; Laura Burns; Angie Carlson; Adam Davis; Cizely Kurian; Dolores Weems; Kristen Wilson Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Helen E Jack; Sophia D Arabadjis; Lucy Sun; Erin E Sullivan; Russell S Phillips Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2016-12-05 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Zhao Dong; Anjali Nath; Jing Guo; Urmi Bhaumik; May Y Chin; Sherry Dong; Erica Marshall; Johnna S Murphy; Megan T Sandel; Susan J Sommer; W W Sanouri Ursprung; Elizabeth R Woods; Margaret Reid; Gary Adamkiewicz Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2017-11-21 Impact factor: 9.308