260581 Asthma education among adults with work-related asthma — Asthma Call-Back Survey, 38 states and District of Columbia, 2006–2009

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Jacek M. Mazurek, MD, MS, PhD , Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV
Gretchen E. Knoeller, MPH , Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV
Jeanne E. Moorman, MS , National Center of Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Background: Adequate education of patients with asthma is essential to the proper management of asthma and work-related asthma (WRA). Objective: To assess the proportions of ever-employed adults with current asthma who received asthma education among individuals with WRA and non-WRA. Methods: We used Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey data collected from persons aged ≥18 years during 2006-2009 in 38 states and the District of Columbia. We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and health insurance status. Results: Individuals with WRA were significantly more likely than those with non-WRA to have ever been given an asthma action plan (40.4% versus 25.3%; PR=1.6); to be taught what to do during an asthma episode (83.2% versus 76.6%, PR=1.1); to be taught how to recognize early signs or symptoms of an asthma episode (74.3% versus 64.5%; PR=1.2); to be taught to use a peak flow meter to adjust daily medications (56.5% versus 43.6%; PR=1.3); to ever take a course to manage asthma (19.7% versus 7.2%; PR=2.6); and to be advised to change things in home, school, or work environments to improve their asthma (56.3% versus 34.9%; PR=1.7). Conclusions: Although individuals with WRA were more likely than those with non-WRA to receive asthma education, less than half received asthma action plans and just about half were advised to change environments to improve their asthma. Future research is warranted to understand factors associated with asthma education delivery in adult patients.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Discuss the elements of asthma education. 2. Compare the proportions of ever-employed adults with current asthma who received asthma education among individuals with WRA and non-WRA. 3. Understand associations of WRA and asthma education.

Keywords: Asthma, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been principal of the Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance at NIOSH aimed to integrate mortality, morbidity, and hazard surveillance activities pertaining to occupational respiratory disease. Among my scientific interests has been the epidemiology and prevention of work-related asthma. I have conducted research related to work-related asthma for 5 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2045.0: Poster Session: Worker Health and Safety Training