Environmental Health

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.