Reducing Asthma Disparities by Improving Provider-Patient Communication

Reducing Asthma Disparities by Improving Provider-Patient Communication About Asthma Severity and Adherence With Therapy

The purpose of this study will be to assess the impact of a culturally-sensitive, patient-focused asthma communication instrument (ACCI) designed to enhance provider-patient communication by prompting and guiding providers in assessments of disease severity and discussion of adherence behaviors with minority patients with asthma.

Improving communication between health care providers and their patients is the critical first step in efforts designed to reduce asthma-related health disparities in urban areas. Improving communication will help providers tailor asthma therapies to their patients' needs, and help providers and patients to overcome barriers (e.g., concerns about adverse effects) to adherence with those asthma treatment plans.

These outcomes include indicators of poor asthma control such as health care service use for asthma exacerbations (unscheduled office visits, ER visits, hospitalizations) and use of oral corticosteroid and overuse of inhaled beta-agonist medications.

Inclusion Criteria: are able to provide informed consent; report physician-diagnosed asthma; report asthma symptoms and/or use of short-acting reliever medication at least twice weekly in the past month. Exclusion Criteria: state they do not have asthma; have mild intermittent disease no recent evidence of disease activity.