Childhood Asthma Program in NYC Health Department Clinics
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Asthma, Pulmonary |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | Any - 21 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | August 1990 |
| End Date: | February 1997 |
Improving Care for Minority Children With Asthma: Professional Education in Public Health Clinics
To demonstrate that the New York City Department of Health Child Health Clinics could
improve the health status of Black and Hispanic children with asthma by providing them with
a comprehensive system of continuity of care that included pharmacologic treatment, family
health education and community outreach.
Recent studies have shown that lack of continuing primary care for asthma is associated with
increased levels of morbidity in low-income minority children. Although effective preventive
therapy is available, many African-American and Latino children receive episodic treatment
for asthma that does not follow current guidelines for care. To see if access, continuity,
and quality of care could be improved in pediatric clinics serving low-income children in
New York City, we trained staff in New York City Bureau of Child Health clinics to provide
continuing, preventive care for asthma.
improve the health status of Black and Hispanic children with asthma by providing them with
a comprehensive system of continuity of care that included pharmacologic treatment, family
health education and community outreach.
Recent studies have shown that lack of continuing primary care for asthma is associated with
increased levels of morbidity in low-income minority children. Although effective preventive
therapy is available, many African-American and Latino children receive episodic treatment
for asthma that does not follow current guidelines for care. To see if access, continuity,
and quality of care could be improved in pediatric clinics serving low-income children in
New York City, we trained staff in New York City Bureau of Child Health clinics to provide
continuing, preventive care for asthma.
BACKGROUND:
The study was part of a demonstration and education initiative "Interventions for Control of
Asthma Among Black and Hispanic Children" which was released by the NHLBI in June 1989.
DESIGN NARRATIVE:
To develop this comprehensive care system, the investigators provided training for Health
Department physicians and nurses in up-to-date methods of diagnosing asthma, and providing
clinical care and health education to patients and families as part of a series of regular
20 minute patient visits. Nurses and public health assistants were also trained to
supplement this by teaching the Open Airways self-management program to groups of families.
A 24-hour telephone advice service for families of asthma patients was staffed by trained
Health Department physicians.
The intervention was based on social cognitive theory, especially self-regulation. In Phase
I, the Health Department medical and nursing staffs were taught by Columbia University
faculty with reinforcement by Health Department physician and nurse supervisors.
Self-regulation was fostered in physicians by use of an Asthma Visit Record and in families
by use of an Asthma Diary. Seven pairs of matched clinics were randomized to be controls or
receive the intervention. The following hypotheses were tested: that a comprehensive system
of continuity of care, including medical care, family health education and community
outreach would (1) increase staff confidence to diagnose and treat childhood asthma; (2)
attract and retain families who had children with asthma in continuing care relationships in
the Health Department clinics; and (3) improve the health status of patients and the quality
of life of their families. Phase II tested whether this comprehensive system could be made
self-sustaining within the Health Department by having physician and nurse super-visors who
took part in Phase I teach the program to staff from a second set of matched clinics. This
program had the potential to reach more than 5000 minority children with asthma. If
successful it could be generalized to other health departments in the country.
The study was part of a demonstration and education initiative "Interventions for Control of
Asthma Among Black and Hispanic Children" which was released by the NHLBI in June 1989.
DESIGN NARRATIVE:
To develop this comprehensive care system, the investigators provided training for Health
Department physicians and nurses in up-to-date methods of diagnosing asthma, and providing
clinical care and health education to patients and families as part of a series of regular
20 minute patient visits. Nurses and public health assistants were also trained to
supplement this by teaching the Open Airways self-management program to groups of families.
A 24-hour telephone advice service for families of asthma patients was staffed by trained
Health Department physicians.
The intervention was based on social cognitive theory, especially self-regulation. In Phase
I, the Health Department medical and nursing staffs were taught by Columbia University
faculty with reinforcement by Health Department physician and nurse supervisors.
Self-regulation was fostered in physicians by use of an Asthma Visit Record and in families
by use of an Asthma Diary. Seven pairs of matched clinics were randomized to be controls or
receive the intervention. The following hypotheses were tested: that a comprehensive system
of continuity of care, including medical care, family health education and community
outreach would (1) increase staff confidence to diagnose and treat childhood asthma; (2)
attract and retain families who had children with asthma in continuing care relationships in
the Health Department clinics; and (3) improve the health status of patients and the quality
of life of their families. Phase II tested whether this comprehensive system could be made
self-sustaining within the Health Department by having physician and nurse super-visors who
took part in Phase I teach the program to staff from a second set of matched clinics. This
program had the potential to reach more than 5000 minority children with asthma. If
successful it could be generalized to other health departments in the country.
Inclusion Criteria
1. Diagnosed with asthma
2. Attending pediatric clinics serving low-income children in New York City
Exclusion Criteria
1. Unable to return to clinics for follow up and treatment
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