Purpose: According to the American Lung Association, 24,657 children and nearly 55,000 adults suffer from asthma in Fulton County, GA. The purpose of this project was to build capacity to address asthma from a community level approach by identifying in-home triggers preventing asthma attacks and asthma-related emergency room visits. The goals of the project were to: 1.) Implement free asthma rescue training workshops, 2.) Conduct in-home assessments, 3.) Provide asthmatic children with mattress and pillow covers, as well as resources to help improve their home environment reducing asthma triggers.
Methods: Participants were recruited through partnerships with the health department, hospitals, and community health clinics. Participants were resident of Fulton County, between the ages of 4-16, and clinically diagnosed with asthma by licensed physician. Community members attended asthma management workshop and signed-up for home assessments to help identify in-home asthma triggers. Asthma rescue training workshops were conducted at local clinics and community centers located in communities with high asthma prevalence and emergency room visit.
Results: 12 educational workshops and three rescue trainings were facilitated to educate community members on asthma prevention and management and the effects of indoor air quality. After seven months 238 people attended the workshops. 72 homes were assessed, impacting233 asthmatic youth. Conclusions: 92% of the respondents missed at least one day of school because of asthma indicated by a 30 day follow up survey. Data from the follow up identified inflammatory factors and irritants (i.e. respiratory infections, allergens, temperature change, pollutants, tobacco, etc) as common triggers.
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