3064.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - 1:00 PM

Abstract #5550

Community outreach for asthma care in Harlem: Broad-based community, clinic and research collaboration

Ilan H. Meyer, PhD1, Kenneth Foster, MA2, Eugenia Black Edwards2, Alice McIntosh2, Yvonne Robinson2, Francine Bailey2, Alejandra Alvarado2, and Ford G. Jean, MD3. (1) The Harlem Lung Center and Division of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, 600 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, 212 305-1952, im15@columbia.edu, (2) The Harlem Lung Center, Harlem Hospital Center and Columbia University's Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, (3) The Harlem Lung Center, Harlem Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Asthma is a health problem of epidemic proportions in Harlem with a prevalence 3- to 4-times higher than the general U.S. population. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 residents of Central and West Harlem have asthma and that 48% of adults with asthma symptoms in Harlem have not been properly diagnosed. COACH is a community outreach program integrated with clinical and research projects at Harlem Hospital Center, in the Harlem Lung Center. We identified lack of knowledge about asthma, poor dissemination of innovations in treatment, and socioeconomic deficits as risks for frequent emergency department use for asthma in Harlem. COACH addresses the complex interaction of biomedical, environmental, psychosocial and economic factors. Using a broad-based coalition of community organizations, researchers, and treatment providers, COACH targets the general community, children and adults with asthma, and health care providers and pharmacies. The program's goals are to promote better knowledge about asthma, improve self-management of the disease by adults and children with asthma, improve access to health care services, and improve primary care services through dissemination of innovations in asthma treatment. In its initial six months, COACH has published a monthly educational newsletter, each issue reaching about 2,000 people; hosted or participated in nearly 50 outreach events reaching over 1,200 schoolchildren and 1,100 adults; and provided support and case management services to over 50 adult and children patients. In addition, COACH is building affiliations to develop a continuing medical education program aimed at bringing state-of-the-art asthma treatment to community health care providers and pharmacies.

Learning Objectives: + Recognize barriers to optimal asthma management in urban city poor communities + Develop asthma education and outreach campaign to address such barriers + Develop coalition work to address health proiorities in a community + Apply research findings to outreach campaigns + Develop optimal community-university collaborations

Keywords: Asthma, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Funded by New York State Department of Health. Harlem Hospital Center's Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Columbia University's Jospeph L. Mailman School of Public Health; West Harlem Environmental Action; The Har
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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA