Training Respiratory Care Professionals on the Environmental Control of Asthma Triggers

More than half of today's certified asthma educators are Respiratory Therapists (RT), and yet Respiratory Therapists have little exposure to information on environmental triggers of asthma and mitigation strategies. One of the most popular textbooks in the field (Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 2008, by Wilkins et al.) contains a single statement about indoor air and does not address environmental triggers. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), in partnership with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), published "Making a Difference in the Management of Asthma: A Guide for Respiratory Therapists,” which suggests “eliminating or reducing exposure” is effective in managing asthma, but does not discuss mitigation strategies. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has already received pilot project funding for a train-the-trainer outreach program engaging 10 faculty Respiratory Therapists who teach in Respiratory Care bachelor's degree programs in Texas. We are now reviewing applications from RT faculty for the training workshop scheduled from March 31 to April 4, 2012. These trainees will receive a payment for training and for follow-up tracking of pledged activities which include teaching RT students, counseling patients, and engaging community organizations on environmental control of asthma. We will present needs assessment and pre- and post-training results for knowledge and confidence. Our goal is to address an environmental health workforce gap by demonstrating the feasibility of training bachelor's level RTs on environmental asthma control, and the feasibility of RTs providing individual/family education, or working with community institutions such as schools to improve indoor air quality for individuals with asthma.