Asthma morbidity 6 yrs after an effective asthma self-management programme in a Maori community

Abstract

A 6-month Maori community-based asthma self-management programme, involving a 'credit card' asthma self-management plan, has previously been shown to be an effective and acceptable system for reducing asthma morbidity. The effectiveness of the asthma self-management programme and participants' self-management behaviour was assessed 6 yrs after the formal end of the programme. Participants were surveyed at the time of enrolment, and 1, 2, and 6 yrs after completing the programme. In each survey, participants were questioned on markers of asthma morbidity and use of medical services during the previous 12 months. Self-management behaviour was assessed using a questionnaire at 2 years and 6 yrs..