Data Indicate Defunct Program Had Success in Reducing ED Visits, Medication in Children with Asthma
Data indicate that the state's Early Childhood Asthma Initiative was successful in improving the health of children ages five and younger, the Monterey County Herald reports. The program's funding ended in June.
The program focused on preventive care and included home visits to ensure children with asthma lived in environments that would not trigger the condition. It also focused on providing accurate and clear instructions, as well as dealing with language and culture barriers.
Maria Elena Manzo, an asthma educator for the American Lung Association who made home visits for the program, said, "A lot of times, [improving care is] a matter of communication."
According to research data about the program, it contributed to a decreased rate of families reporting the use of "quick-relief medication," which is a sign of poor control of the condition, and visiting the emergency department, as well as a decreased rate of hospitalizations.
"As we began to get the program data, we were surprised at how dramatic the reductions were," David Nunez, a pediatrician and chief of the state Asthma Public Health Initiative, said.
ALA has started a similar program, called Pro-Active Families Against Asthma, in Monterey with funding from First 5 Monterey County (Clayton, Monterey County Herald, 12/20).