| Background: Asthma remains a public health concern with 7.4% of adults having the disease (CDC, 2014). The direct cost for people with asthma is 56 billion dollars a year (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2016). Direct costs for asthma were almost 50.1 billion dollars a year in which hospital admissions accounted for the majority of this cost (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2016). Recommendations from the Expert Panel Report 3 include use of asthma action plans to assist in maintaining asthma control.;Methods: This descriptive correlational study investigated the relationship of asthma action plans and level of asthma control in adults, measured by the Asthma Control test.;Results: Level of asthma control was significantly higher in patients with asthma action plans compared to those who did not receive asthma action plans from the provider (p<.001) with an effect size of 0.043. A significant association was found between having an asthma action plan and the rate of asthma control (p=.003). No significance was found with having an asthma action plan and (a) getting as much done at work, school or home; (b) nocturnal coughing; and (c) use of rescue medication.;Conclusion: These results highlight the need for adherence to the standards of the EPR-3 to improve asthma control, decreasing exacerbations, resulting in fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations, thereby reducing exorbitant health care dollars. This study highlights the need for health care providers to utilize asthma action plans in patient education. |
