The air quality health index and asthma morbidity: a population-based study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution has been linked to the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), developed in Canada, is a new health risk scale for reporting air quality and advising risk reduction actions.

Objective: We used the AQHI to estimate the impact of air quality on asthma morbidity, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results from a community-based program evaluating the effect of changing smoking status on asthma symptom control.

Background: Cigarette smoking has been associated with accelerated decline in lung function, increased health services use and asthma severity in patients with asthma. Previous studies have provided insight into how smoking cessation improves lung function among asthma patients, however, fail to provide measurable asthma symptom-specific outcomes after smoking cessation. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of changing smoking status on asthma symptom control and health services use in adults with asthma.

Feasibility of a provincial voluntary reporting system for work-related asthma in Ontario.

Objective: The Ontario Work-Related Asthma Surveillance System: Physician Reporting (OWRAS) Network was established in 2007 to estimate the prevalence of work-related asthma (WRA) in Ontario, and to test the feasibility of collecting data for cases of WRA from physicians voluntarily.

Methods: More than 300 respirologists, occupational medicine physicians, allergists and primary care providers in Ontario were invited to participate in monthly reporting of WRA cases by telephone, postal service or e-mail.

Results: Since 2007, 49 physicians have registered with the OWRAS Network and, to date, have reported 34 cases of occupational asthma and 49 cases of work-exacerbated asthma.

Can children with spina bifida and muscular dystrophy participate in their own health status evaluations?

Background: The outcomes movement has emphasized the importance of the patient in evaluating treatment outcome. However, concern has been raised about the ability of children, particularly those with multisystem disease, to evaluate their disability.

Purpose: To determine whether children with spina bifida and muscular dystrophy and their parents agree when asked about the relative difficulty of daily activities and the severity of symptoms experienced by the child.

Evidence-based performance indicators of primary care for asthma: a modified RAND Appropriateness Method.

Purpose: To develop evidence-based performance indicators that measure the quality of primary care for asthma.

Data Sources: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL for peer-reviewed articles published in 1998-2008 and five national/global asthma management guidelines.

Study Selection: Articles with a focus on current asthma performance indicators recognized or used in community and primary care settings.

Is large birth weight associated with asthma risk in early childhood?

Objective: To determine the association between large birth weight and the risk of developing asthma in early childhood.

Methods: All single live births (n=687 194) born in Ontario between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 2001 were followed until their sixth birthday. Their birth weight was categorised as low (<2.

What is the lifetime risk of physician-diagnosed asthma in Ontario, Canada?

Rationale: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in Canada. The estimates of risk of developing asthma may help researchers and health planners set research agendas, predict the burden of asthma on society, and target the at-risk population for asthma prevention, management, and control.

Objectives: To estimate the lifetime risk of physician-diagnosed asthma.

How much do health care providers value a community-based asthma care program? A survey to collect their opinions on the utilities of and barriers to its uptake.

Background: A comprehensive asthma care program (ACP) based on Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines was implemented in 8 primary care sites in Ontario, Canada. A survey was distributed to health care providers' (HCPs) to collect their opinions on the utilities of and barriers to the uptake of the ACP.

Methods: A 39-item self-administered survey was mailed to 184 HCPs and support staff involved in delivering the ACP at the end of implementation.

Can a community evidence-based asthma care program improve clinical outcomes?: a longitudinal study.

Rationale: Asthma is associated with significant morbidity. Previous studies highlight significant variations in asthma management approaches within primary care settings where the adoption of published asthma guidelines is typically suboptimal.

Objective: To determine whether the implementation of an evidence-based asthma care program in community primary care settings leads to improved clinical outcomes in asthma patients.