Use and impact of an automated telephone outreach system for asthma in a managed care setting.

Objective: To test the ability of an automated telephone outreach intervention to reduce acute healthcare utilization and improve quality of life among adult asthma patients in a large managed care organization.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Patients with persistent asthma were randomly assigned to telephone outreach (automated = 3389, live caller = 192) or usual care (n = 3367).