Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115021

Derek G. Shendell, DEnv, MPH¹, Eric M. Roberts, MD, PhD², Jeni L. Miller, PhD³, Rebecca Flournoy, MPH⁴, Cindy S. Tsai³, Debra Ann Russell, BA¹, Diane R. Estrin, BS⁵, and Mary Beth Love, PhD⁶. (1) CA State Office, Community Action to Fight Asthma Initiative, 1250 Addison, Suite 112, Berkeley, CA 94702, (510) 644-1609, derek.g.shendell.96@alum.dartmouth.org, (2) Environmental Health Investigations Branch-CA Environmental Health Tracking Program, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1700, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) Publications and Training Office, Community Health Works of San Francisco, 1250 Addison, Suite 112, Berkeley, CA 94702, (4) PolicyLink, 101 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607, (5) CA State Coordinating Office, Community Action to Fight Asthma Initiative, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1700, Oakland, CA 94612, (6) Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, HSS 319, San Francisco, CA 94132

Environmental factors influence the prevalence and severity of asthma, and likely help cause asthma. Reducing or preventing exposure to known indoor and outdoor environmental asthma triggers can prevent asthma exacerbations, which offers direct and indirect health benefits to asthmatic children and their families. About one in 10 California children under age 18 have been diagnosed with asthma, higher than the nation overall, with community and county-level variability given local factors. The Community Action to Fight Asthma Initiative (CAFA) raised public awareness about environmental triggers of asthma through outreach and education, and assisted local and state policymakers to identify, develop and implement critical interventions and policies. CAFA State Coordinating Office staff developed data projects and other informational tools to support coalition activities at the local, county, regional, and state levels. In this presentation, details of these printed and electronic (e-mail, web-based) materials will be highlighted: newsletters in both printed (semi-annual) and electronic (every 1-2 months) format; a “User Guidelines” series on the basics of epidemiology and statistics related to asthma outcomes data, using CAFA's website (http://www.calasthma.org), and using CAFA E-forum Discussion Boards; the compilation of age-adjusted asthma hospitalization rates by legislative districts and by zip codes; and, the CAFA California Asthma Advocacy Data Book. These materials are available for free, by download from our website and/or on CD-Rom by request. These materials could inform similar science education and risk communication efforts nationwide. This presentation is for various asthma stakeholders and government agency employees who work with health and environment coalitions.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to list and describe the major data projects and education, media, and communications tools created to inform advocacy and interventions related to environmental triggers of asthma in California, and recognize strategies applicable to their communities.

Keywords: Asthma, Risk Communication

Related Web page: www.calasthma.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation