This study compared an in-home asthma management program provided by nurses or respiratory therapists to see if those receiving program had fewer hospitalizations, clinic and emergency room visits and higher levels of satisfaction and health related quality of life.

Background: Disease management may improve outcomes and reduce cost. We compared an in-home asthma management program (AMP) delivered by respiratory therapists (RTs) or nurses (RNs) to standard care (SC) in 159 adults with moderate to severe asthma to determine the effect on health care utilization (HCU), patient satisfaction (PS) and health related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: This single center, prospective trial randomized subjects, age 18-64, to three groups: SC, AMP-RT or AMP-RN. Outcomes at six-months were HCU, cost, pulmonary function, symptoms, environmental assessment, asthma self-management, HRQOL (SF-36; St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ]) and PS. Frequencies were compared using chi 2; all other variables were compared using ANOVA with a post-hoc test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (age 18-64 years) treated in the ED or hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of asthma at the university teaching hospital were invited to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Included other pulmonary disorders or diagnosis of co-morbid disease which was disabling in nature.