October 2008: ERS Annual Congress Women With Asthma E-Poster

The European Respiratory Society's (ERS) Annual Congress will be held in Berlin, Germany from October 3rd-8th.

Presenter: Julia Dodge, MS, RN

Title:  "Quality of Life Over the Long Term Following Education for Women with Asthma"

Authors:  Dr. Noreen M. Clark, Dr. Molly Gong, Ms. Julia Dodge, Dr. Melissa Valerio, Dr. William Bria, and Dr. Timothy Johnson

Date and Time: Monday October 6th, 2008:  E-communication Session entitled "Asthma control or asthma severity" 2:45pm to 4:45pm in room "New York 2" at the Messe Berlin in Germany.

Abstract: The sex and gender role factors in management of asthma by women have not been studied extensively even though more than half the adult asthma patient population comprises females. A number of studies have shown the potential influence of hormonal factors on lung function and symptoms, however, how women can be aided to manage asthma in light of these factors has not been examined. Further, the longer term effects of a program to help female patients have not been studied. This randomized clinical trial assessed outcomes for women two years subsequent to an intervention designed to reflect the female perspective on management and the sex and gender role factors influencing management efforts.

808 women with asthma were recruited through the clinics of the University of Michigan Health System and randomly assigned to the intervention or to usual care. The intervention was based on principles of self regulation and focused on women's management challenges. Data were collected at baseline prior to randomization and again two years later by telephone interview and review of medical records. Measures included quality of life, health care use for asthma, confidence to manage asthma, and sex and gender related problems. Data were analyzed using GEE logistic regression and log-linear regression.

Intervention group women at baseline had more persistent asthma but no other initial treatment/control differences were found. At the two year follow up, no differences in health care use were noted. However, treatment women had a higher level of asthma related quality of life (p=0.01), were more confident to manage asthma (p=0.01) and were less bothered by asthma during sexual activity (p=0.02). Attending to sex and gender factors in education and counseling of female patients can produce long term quality of life benefits for them.