A pilot study describing local residents' perceptions of asthma and knowledge of asthma care in selected Chicago communities

Study objectives: To understand inner-city Chicago residents' perception of the prevalence and severity of asthma as well as their knowledge of asthma control and management. Design: Cross-sectional survey using a random digital telephone dialing met hod. Settings: Five inner-city Chicago communities where a high prevalence and m ortality of asthma have been recognized. Participants: All the residents in the selected communities with a resident ial telephone had an equal opportunity to be surveyed. Measurements and results: The unit of measurement was the household. Only o ne adult member (age 18 or older) in any randomly selected household was in tervened. The survey included questions modified from the Chicago Asthma Su rveillance Initiative study. A total of 2,322 phone calls with 527 successf ul contacts were made over 1,938 distinct phone lines, resulting in a respo nse rate of 175 of 527 calls (33.2%). Seventy-nine of the participants (45. 1%) reported that at least one of their family members (including themselve s) has asthma, Eight persons (4.6%) reported asthma as one of the top three health concerns in their community, Of the top three health reasons mentio ned for children's being absent from school, only seven persons (4%) mentio ned asthma, Participants were unlikely to perceive that the problems with a ccess to asthma care and environmental triggers for asthma in their communi ties were any worse compared with other communities. Participants having fa mily members with diagnosed asthma scored no better when asked general know ledge questions about asthma or its signs and triggers than those without a family member having asthma, Conclusions: The participants' knowledge and beliefs about the seriousness of asthma revealed in this study appeared unlikely to enhance or support co mpliance with the challenging requirements of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Panel guidelines. The study was conducted with a small samp le, and interpreted. the results should be carefully interpreted.