Starting an Asthma Education Program at the Local Level

ANDREA JENSEN, B.S. , CHESENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EDUCATORUTAH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Starting an Asthma Education Program at the

Local Level

Today’s webinar

1. What does your population look like? Who should you focus on?

2. How do you develop partnerships? Who do you select?

3. Interventions, resources available (I can help you start a program with very little funding!)

Asthma Burden

Most Common Chronic Disease among

Children

Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)

Asthma Burden

#1 Cause of Missed

School Days

Source: Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA)

1. Ask yourself:

What does my area look like?

Rural/urban Demographics

How do you get that data?

Who do you want to focus on?

Age groups? Ethnic group?

Asthma Burden

6.7% of Children in Utah

59,000 Children

2,360 Classroo

ms

Asthma Burden

8.6% of adults

in Utah

167,000

Adults

Utah County Statistics

We are 44 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah

• We are the 2nd most populated county in Utah

The population is 516,564* residents

• The county is 2,142 square miles

Demographics

White-83.4%Hispanic-11.2%Asian-2.3%Pacific Islander-1.4%Black-0.9%American Indian-0.9%

Environmental Health Educator

Unique position

Funded through Air Quality program AND

Mini grant from Asthma Program (Utah Dept. of Health - from CDC)

Personal interest I have asthma

All 3 teenagers have asthma

Kids hospitalized 12 times for asthma

Led to career change

Utah County Asthma Coalition

2001 UDOH receives funding from CDC

2009 Utah County Asthma Coalition formed

2010 Local 5 year asthma plan created

Current Asthma Prevalence by Age and Sex, Utah County, 2009-2011

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2009-2011 Combined. Crude prevalence.

0-17 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+0

2

4

6

8

10

12

7.37.7

6.7 5.9 6.2

4.8

10.4

7.88.1

11.2

6.0

9.0

7.2 7.0

9.1

MaleFemaleTotalPe

rcen

t

Asthma Hospitalizations Utah County, 2003-2007

Year Number Rate per 10,000 Population

2003 233 5.5

2004 239 5.5

2005 202 4.4

2006 195 4.1

2007 150 3.0

Source: Utah Inpatient Hospitalization Database, 2005-2007. Crude rates.

Asthma Hospitalizations Utah County, 2008-2011

Year Number Rate per 10,000 Population

2008 146 2.99

2009 180 3.57

2010 146 2.81

2011 192 3.62

2012

Source: 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Asthma Hospitalizations and ED Visits, Utah County, 2007-2011

Source: Utah Inpatient Hospitalization and ED Database, 2007-2011. Age adjusted rates.

2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

ED VisitsHospitalizations

Rat

e pe

r 10

,000

2. Who to

partner with?

State health department

Local hospitals

School nurses

American Lung Association

Asthma specialists

Parents of children with asthma

Utah Asthma Program

Issue 3 mini-grants to local health districts (CDC funding)

Provide a few asthma interns every fall (to train school staff)

Provide asthma telehealths

Epidemiologist evaluate programs, provide data

Intermountain Health Care

State system-wide asthma education program for all facilities (9 in total)

Asthma education

taught in small steps asthma basics, triggers,

medications, inhaler technique, medication delivery devices, and monitoring

Parents/patient teach back concept to assure they understand

Every parent (157) discharged w/ follow up plan Includes the Asthma

Action Plan Monitoring system

(asthma tracker)

School Districts and School Nurses

Alpine 71,000 students and 80 schools

Nebo – 30,000 students and 40 schools

Provo – 15,000 students and 18 schools

Nurse-student ratio

School Nurse to Student Ratio (2010 Annual Report)

Alpine 1: 6,004

Nebo 1: 4,222

Provo 1: 7,643

Utah County School Nurses

Employed through Utah County Health Dept (NOT the schools)

116,000 students

138 public schools

Service between 5-8 schools

This is where I fit in!

School trainings

Coach trainings

Daycare trainings

Blog

Classes for the public

Resources I use….

3. Ideas to get you started with very little funding!

“What to Do in Case of an Asthma Attack”

Created by UDOH Asthma Program

For ALL school staff members

20 minute training

Online training for coaches

PE Teachers-Winning with Asthma

30 minute on-line training

Free clipboard

Clipboard printed with:

“Common Symptoms of an Asthma Attack”

“WHAT TO DO DURING AN ASTHMA ATTACK”

“DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL 911 IF:”

“Asthma Friendly Daycares”

Created by Asthma Program staff

For all day care staff members

45 minute training

Environmental focus

“My Life as an Asthma Mom” blog

More about blog

Used by school nurses state-wide to help their families.

Included on the Utah School Nursing Association (USNA) website

Listed as “One of 10 Best Asthma Blogs” 2012 by Healthline

For adults:

Living Well with Chronic Conditions (UDOH)

FREE 6 week program

Evidence based-Stanford University (Chronic Disease Self Managment)

Taught world wide

Open Airways – ALA

Students 8-11

American Lung Association Free 6 week program

Trained university students help teach

Public Health Interns

Best kept secret!!

2 local universities

Mandatory requirement 250 hours at Utah

Valley University 325 hours at Brigham

Young University

Kickin’ Asthma – ALA California

Grades 6-10

Specially geared toward teens living in low-income neighborhoods

These teens often have higher rates of asthma and are more likely to end up in the emergency room

Breathe Well, Live Well - ALA

Adult asthma education workshop

Teaches adults the knowledge and self-management skills to take control of their asthma

Developed with support of the CDC

Lung Help Line - ALA

Lung CancerAsthmaAllergiesEmphysemaSmoking CessationEnvironmental Health

1-800-LUNGUSA

1-800-586-4872

Staffed by Registered Nurses

Registered Respiratory Therapist

Summer camp for kids with asthma!

Utah’s Camp Wyatt (American Lung Association)

Kids ages 7-12

Medical personnel on staff 24 hours a day

Free EPA publications

Minnesota Health Department

Newly Diagnosed Asthma Packet

Newly Diagnosed Asthma Packet (English & Spanish)

Developed with feedback from focus group

Reviewed by physician, nurse, asthma specialist, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, parents

Asthma Bronchial Tubes

Asthma Telehealth

Co-pay assistance

Questions?

Andrea Jensen, B. S., CHES

Certified Health Education Specialist

Andreaj@utahcounty.gov

801-851-7509