Assessing Decision Maker Tools for Asthma: the Asthma APGAR
Assessing Decision Maker Tools for Asthma: the Asthma APGAR
Asthma is a common problem among US adults and children. Unfortunately many people with
 asthma continue to suffer from asthma symptoms that could be control with better asthma care
 and more attention to details such as triggers, and adherence. To date the only tools
 available and recommended by groups such as the national asthma guideline group consider only
 asthma burden and do not include information on the most common factors that adversely affect
 asthma control. This study provides one half of the enrolled primary care offices with the
 Asthma APGAR which is a system of patient completed questions and a care flow sheet. The
 other half of the enrolled practices will continue to provide "usual" care without the
 support of the Asthma APGAR system. The research questions is whether or not asthma control
 and asthma related quality of life will be improved in people with asthma who are cared for
 in the intervention practices that use the Asthma APGAR system.
Since this is a practice intervention study, the practices are randomized and all patients
 enrolled within each practice receive either the intervention based care or the usual care.

 The primary outcome is asthma related quality of life obtained from patient report. Other
 outcomes include asthma control, also a patient reported outcome, and number of exacerbations
 which is obtained from patient medical record review.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Have physician diagnosed asthma

 2. Male or female between ages 5 through 60 years

 3. Have persistent asthma as assessed by daily use of "controller" medication

 4. Receive continuity care at practice where enrolled.

 5. Not have been in ICU for asthma ever

 6. Do not require daily or every other day oral steroids for asthma control

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Cannot read and speak English

 2. Child refuses assent