Opportunities and Challenges

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), coordinated by NIH, provides technical assistance and a vital network for exchanging information and advice on implementing asthma treatment guidelines at the community level.¹² Composed of members from local public health departments, local hospitals and medical centers, schools, community recreation centers, concerned parent groups, lung associations, and the media, NAEPP works with coalitions interested in developing public education objectives and implementing a strategic plan to increase public awareness and patient and family asthma management skills. These efforts increase the dissemination of science-based asthma education messages to high-risk communities throughout the country.

The development of comprehensive statewide asthma control plans in nine State health departments¹³ and Puerto Rico and the continuing implementation of plans in an additional 24 States and the District of Columbia should contribute to progress toward the asthma targets.¹⁴ Seven cities¹⁵ use innovative and collaborative approaches to improve overall asthma management and to decrease severe asthma illness among urban children up to age 18 years. Some approaches include physician training on appropriate diagnosis and treatment of asthma, community classes in self-care and management for parents of children with asthma, and in-home assessments for environmental asthma triggers in the homes of children with multiple emergency department visits for asthma.

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