Author/Authors :
Mishra, Rashmi Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA , Kashif, Muhammad Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA , Venkatram, Sindhaghatta Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA , George, Teresa Department of Pharmacy - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA , Luo, Kristina Department of Pharmacy - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA , Diaz-Fuentes, Gilda Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care - Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA
Abstract :
Objective. Asthma education programs have been shown to decrease healthcare utilization and improve disease control and
management. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of an outpatient adult asthma education program in an inner
city hospital caring for patients with low socioeconomic and educational status. Methods. An asthma education program was
implemented in September 2014. Patients who received education from September 2014 to July 2015 were evaluated. Outcomes
were compared for the same group of patients before and after education. Primary outcomes were emergency room (ER) visits and
hospital admissions. Secondary outcomes were change in Asthma Control Test (ACT) score and number of pulmonary clinic visits.
Results. Asthma education significantly decreased number of patients requiring ER visits and hospital admissions (𝑝 = 0.0005 and
𝑝 = 0.0015, resp.). Asthma control as per ACT score ≥ 20 improved with education (𝑝 = 0.0001) with an increase in clinic visits (𝑝 =
0.0185). Conclusions. Our study suggests that implementation of a structured asthma education program in an inner city community
hospital has a positive impact on reduction of ER visits and hospital admissions with improvement in asthma control. Institutional
Review Board Clinical Study registration number is 01081507.
