FirstAir Asthma Education Program

The FirstAir Asthma Education Program is a worksite-based education program to improve control of asthma. Employees participating in the program benefit from improved knowledge of asthma management and self-care. The employer hosting the program benefits from improved employee morale, decreased medical claims expense, and improved employee productivity due to fewer asthma-related absences. Employees with asthma participate in five weekly 1-hour sessions conducted by a trained clinical asthma nurse specialist during lunch hours. Topics covered include symptoms of asthma, recognition of triggers, warning signs for asthma attacks, medications, the use of peak flow meters and inhalers, handling emergencies, and keeping an asthma diary. Participants receive free lunch at the sessions, a 1-year subscription to Asthma Magazine, a tote bag, gift certificates, and other incentives to complete the program.

The goal of the FirstAir Asthma Education Program is to increase knowledge of asthma treatments and improve self-management.

Surveys were conducted at baseline, at the end of the two month program, and at 4- and 12-month follow-ups to measure asthma control based on four control barriers: self reported missed work, nocturnal asthma symptoms, increase in the use of beta-agonists, and self-assessment of asthma control. As a result of the intervention, self-reported asthma control improved, with a decline in control barriers from baseline through 12 months. The number of employees reporting no control barriers increased from 11% at baseline to 28% after four months. The number of employees reporting all four barriers decreased from 7% at baseline to 0% at 4- and 12-month follow-ups. The percentage of participants with prescriptions for controller medication increased significantly from 59% at baseline to 76% at the 12-month follow-up.