Coping With Asthma Throughout Life Management Program

Coping With Asthma Throughout Life Management: CALM Program for African American Adult Patients With Asthma

The purpose of this study is to determine if the Coping with Asthma through Life Management (CALM) intervention, designed to help Black adult with asthma cope with stress, is feasible and acceptable.

Asthma medication nonadherence is a major contributor to asthma morbidity and mortality in Black adults. Black adults with asthma reported that increased psychosocial stress (e.g., perceived discrimination, job stress, caregiver burden), health-related stress (e.g., concern about asthma control), and economic stress (e.g., economic strain) were barriers to asthma medication adherence and control. The study's hypothesis is that CALM, targeting multiple stressors specifically faced by Black adults with asthma, will be feasibly implemented in a health system, will be acceptable to program participants, and will be a potentially effective intervention to improve asthma medication adherence and asthma control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least the age of 18
• Self identify as Black/African-American
• Self-report current asthma diagnosis
• Asthma must be persistent (Prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid (alone or in combination)
• Asthma must be uncontrolled (≥1 exacerbation in the past years OR Asthma Control Questionnaire > 0.75)
• Have moderate-high stress (Perceived Stress Scale ≥ 14)
• Presented at any Primary Care clinic in the past 3 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable or unwilling to give consent
• Diagnosis of a psychotic disorder
• Positive responses to questions regarding suicidality