The impact of a large-scale population-based asthma management program on pediatric asthma patients and their caregivers.

Background: The consequences of pediatric asthma include missed school attendance, limitations in physical activity, and increased health care utilization and costs. Caregivers of asthmatic children are affected through missed work days and decreased job productivity. In response to these issues, a disease management program encompassing asthmatic children and their caregivers was developed as part of the core services offered to members of a large, national health care plan.

Impact of respiratory symptoms on health-related quality of life and medical resource utilization of patients treated by allergy specialists and primary care providers.

Background: Respiratory symptoms associated with allergy and asthma cause substantial health care burden.

Objective: This observational pilot study compared internal medicine/family practice (IM/FP) and pediatric primary care providers with allergists in the diagnosis, treatment, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes of adults and children with respiratory symptoms.

Methods: Two allergists, 2 IM/FP, and 2 pediatricians enrolled 242 patients with respiratory symptoms ages 5 to 16 years old (n = 123) and 17 to 70 years old (n = 119).