Title: Comparative Effectiveness of Asthma Interventions Within an AHRQ PBRN
Title: Comparative Effectiveness of Asthma Interventions Within an AHRQ PBRN
The overall goal is to identify best practices for improving health outcomes for patients
 with asthma using comparative effectiveness research within an Agency for Healthcare Research
 and Quality (AHRQ) Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). This goal will be achieved by
 completing the following aims: (1) Create a centralized database for comparative
 effectiveness research on asthma by combining clinical and billing data from one of the
 largest healthcare systems in the country (Carolinas Healthcare System) with data from the
 school system, Medicaid, and patient and community-level datasets; (2) Deploy a fully
 developed integrated approach to asthma management based on the Chronic Care Model; (3)
 Develop and implement a "shared decision making" approach for asthmatic patients from
 disadvantaged backgrounds; (4) Implement an electronic data collection system for an existing
 CDC funded school-based asthma intervention that will allow program evaluation and link
 school nurses with providers; (5) Evaluate and compare the effectiveness of these three
 asthma management strategies on: overall healthcare consumption and medical costs; quality of
 life, school absenteeism and performance; asthma clinical measures; and medication
 utilization; and (6) Disseminate findings across the state via the statewide PBRN and other
 network partners. This project has the potential to impact over 30,000 asthma patients across
 the Carolinas including many patients from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Inclusion Criteria:

 all with asthma diagnosis

 Exclusion Criteria:

 none