PUTTING ON AIRS: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ASTHMA CONTROL

*Funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, Asthma and Air Quality Branch  NUE1EH001502

Asthma Home Visiting Program: Putting on AIRS

The Putting on AIRS program is an Asthma Home Visiting program for families of children with uncontrolled asthma.  The program offers:

• Asthma self-management education.
• Assessment and reduction of environmental home asthma triggers.
• Risk assessment of exposure to allergens and outdoor air pollutants.
• Assistance in addressing social determinants of health & barriers to asthma care.
• Supportive linkages and care coordination to services needed.
• Assistance with environmental determinants of health.

Services are provided over 3 home visits conducted over a six-month period.

Who provides the services?

• Certified Asthma Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Available translation services
• Services are free*

PURPOSE OF THE PUTTING ON AIRS

Reduce the burden of asthma through multicomponent home-based asthma education and environmental programs.

OBJECTIVES

• Improve asthma control in children.
• Reduce asthma Emergency Departments (ED) visits and hospitalizations.
• Reduce asthma disparities in residents at greatest risk for asthma morbidity and mortality.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

At the time of referral to the POA program, children had, over the last 6 months, any of the following:

• ≥ 1 ED visit or hospitalization or unscheduled medical visit; or
• Nonadherence to Inhaled Corticosteroids; or
• Self-administered 3 rescue inhaler canisters or
• Activity limitations due to asthma; or
• School Absences: missed ≥ 2 school days in the past school year
• School Nurse’s Office Visits > 2/week in the past school year

ASTHMA HOME VISITS: CORE ELEMENTS

• Asthma Education:
  • Curriculum; Hands-on Education Approach
  • Asthma Medications
  • Asthma Action Plans
  • Assessment of Inhaler Technique, Medication Adherence and Asthma Control at each visit.

   

• Assessment of in-Home and Outdoors Asthma Triggers
  • Recommendations for Reducing and Eliminating Exposure to Environmental Triggers
  • Use of Provided Supplies and impact on triggers’ exposure
  • Referrals to available Energy Efficiency & Weatherization programs

   

• Assessment of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and

  Barriers to Asthma Management

  • Use of Standard Assessment Tool
  • Assistance with accessibility to health care services, medications, mental/behavioral health support, smoking cessation programs, housing assistance.
  • Address through linkages to community and local services.
  • Supportive Care Coordination 

Referral Procedures

Referrals are made through multiple sources including health providers, emergency departments, community health centers, school nurses directly to the Regional “Putting on AIRS” (POA) Coordinator. Referrals must include an Asthma Action Plan. Once enrolled, all participants are followed over a six-month period and measures of asthma control, adherence to Inhaled Corticosteroids and asthma medication self-administration are collected. Six months after the initiation of the POA, participants' use of EDs, hospitalizations or unscheduled visits are also measured. Providers receive a written report with recommendations when the home visits are completed.