Addressing Air Quality Mitigation as a Key Factor in Asthma Management and Prevention

Abstract

Asthma is the most prevalent disease in childhood and disproportionately affects African American (AA) populations in terms of prevalence and frequency of exacerbations. Air quality and environmental factors are strongly associated with the diagnosis and management of asthma and AA children are more likely to live in areas with poor air quality. An air quality flag program was implemented in a daycare located in a county with a predominantly AA population with a high prevalence of asthma diagnoses. The goal of the intervention was to increase staff awareness of air quality and the impact it can have on asthma diagnosis and exacerbations. An educational session was provided to staff regarding the asthma disease process, factors affecting air quality, and its role in the development and management of asthma. Staff were educated about the EPA’s air quality flag program and how to track the daily air quality. Air quality was monitored, and actions were taken according to the EPA’s air flag program for 6 weeks. 12 pre-surveys were completed by staff before the educational session and 8 post-surveys were completed after 6 weeks of the intervention. Post-survey results indicated an increased understanding of the role that air quality exposure plays in the development of asthma (25%) and asthma exacerbations (34%). Additionally, survey results indicated a 30% increase in respondents who agreed there were steps they could take to prevent a child from having an asthma exacerbation. Results were not statistically significant due to sample numbers, but anecdotally significant