Asthma Control Program

Asthma is a common chronic condition in which inflammation and constriction of the airways causes shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Control of asthma symptoms is essential for quality of life and to prevent life-threatening asthma attacks that require urgent care or hospitalization.

In 2011, the New Mexico Asthma Control partnered with Nor-Lea General Hospital in Lovington, New Mexico to develop a program of patient self-management education for people with asthma.

From June 17-19, 2014 the Pediatric Pulmonary Center at the University of New Mexico held their latest Summer Asthma Institute on managing pediatric asthma, organized by Dr. Marie L. Lobo, PhD, RN, FAAN, at the College of Nursing in Albuquerque.

This report presents evaluation findings from the most recent year of an NMACP-sponsored asthma self-management education program based at a critical access hospital in the Southeast, including program background, implementation, and impact on patient physical health and quality of life. Uses quantitative and qualitative data to examine program impact and propose recommendations.

This factsheet briefly presents findings from last year’s asthma self-management education program at Nor-Lea GH, describing the program and some of its results. Self-management education empowers patients and caregivers to manage their chronic disease, reducing their need to access emergency care and improving their quality of life.

To evaluate the implementation and patient outcomes associated with an asthma self-management program based at a critical access hospital in the southeast region of New Mexico, where asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits are higher than the New Mexico state average.

The 2014 Asthma Surveillance Data Users Survey asked New Mexicans who work with, care for, and support children and adults with asthma about the data resources they use and the kinds of data which are useful to them in activities like planning, advocacy, healthcare, and grant-writing.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in New Mexico, with an estimated 150,000 adults and 47,000 children currently having the disease. People with asthma are more likely to miss school or work, report feelings of depression, and experience an overall reduced quality of life compared to those without asthma.

A pilot project was implemented March-August 2011 in Nor-Lea General Hospital in Lovington New Mexico. The project was to provide asthma self-management education to individuals and then survey the impact of the program. This report provides details of the demographics of those who participated, a summary of the program impact and sustainability, and final recommendations for the future.