BREATHING SPACE
Respiratory Disease Newsletter
Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Division
Chronic Disease & Environmental Epidemiology Section
Volume 3, Number 1
World Asthma Day, May 3, 2005
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Breathing Space
Electronically
May is Asthma Awareness Month, and Tuesday, May 3, 2005, is World Asthma Day.
The Minnesota Asthma Coalition (MAC) regional coalitions will be planning special
events for the month. Keep an eye out for this year’s theme:
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hpcd/cdee/asthma/
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What’s Inside?
March 2005
Upcoming Events
Healthy People 2010
Staff Update
Air Quality Update
School Training Update
Association for
Nonsmokers - Minnesota
“So you have asthma, what’s your plan?”
The Metro Minnesota Asthma Coalition (MMAC) is working with Twin Cities
Public Television, TPT2, to air an episode of Arthur called “Buster’s Breathless.”
This episode addresses asthma, what can trigger an asthma episode, and how you
can stay active and healthy if you have asthma. Tune in to TPT2 on May 3, 2005, at
4 p.m. For more information contact Chris Krueger at [email protected].
The Southwest Regional Asthma Coalition (SWRAC) will have “Family Night,” an
evening of asthma educational activities for families. There will be a “pizza and
pop” supper, inhaler demonstrations, games that will teach children about asthma, a
parent/caregiver presentation made by an asthma specialist, door prizes, and family
swim time. Come to the Willmar YMCA (1000 Lakeland Drive SE, Willmar, MN)
on May 1, 2005, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information contact Amy
Roggenbuck at [email protected].
Please continue to check the MAC website (www.mnasthma.org) or contact the
MAC Coordinator, Erin Simmons, at 507-381-8257 for more event information in
your area.
If you would like to know more about what the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency is doing for World Asthma Day and Asthma Awareness Month, visit the
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency website at http://www.epa.gov/asthma/
awm.html.
Second Annual Asthma Sharing Conference and
Minnesota Asthma Coalition Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 12, 2004, St. Cloud Civic Center
Presented by: Minnesota Asthma Coalition (MAC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),
& American Lung Association of Minnesota (ALAMN)
This conference is a statewide forum to exchange ideas, share innovative programs and review current
research in asthma management. The presentations and break out sessions will offer the latest
information on asthma, comprehensive care, and regional activities. Topics include:
Asthma activities in Minnesota
Asthma, allergies and COPD
Occupational asthma
Asthma diagnosis, management and culture
Multi-disciplinary approaches to asthma care
For registration and further information visit www.alamn.org/prof/AsthmaSharingConf.asp or contact
Cheryl Sasse at [email protected] or 651-223-9565.
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March 2005
Healthy People 2010:
Minnesota and the National Goals for Asthma
Upcoming Events
Central Minnesota Regional Asthma
Coalition (CMRAC)
“Pharmacy Training for Busy Pharmacists”
March 31, 2005, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn
Contact: Kathleen Milligan at 320-253-6011
or [email protected]
Northeast Regional Asthma Coalition
(NERAC)
“Physician Asthma Care Education” (PACE)
training
May 20 & 21, 2005
Riverwood Health Care, Aitkin, MN
Contact: Debra Breuer at 218-927-5532
Coalition Meeting
June 2, 2005, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Michigan Room at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Contact: Maureen Strange at
[email protected]
Southeast Regional Asthma Coalition
(SERAC)
Keep an eye out for the asthma media campaign this spring. It will be appearing as a
direct mail advertisement and as public service
announcements on television starring local
teens. Thanks to our partners:
Charter Media, Olmsted Medical Center
Foundation, Olmsted County Public Health
Services, The Olmsted County Youth Tobacco
Prevention Advisory Board, BREATHE
Contact: Judy Wothke at [email protected]
Southwest Regional Asthma Coalition
(SWRAC)
Coalition Meeting
March 14, 2005, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Allergy and Asthma Specialty Clinic,
1037 19th Avenue SW, Willmar, MN
Contact: Amy Roggenbuck at
[email protected]
“Open House”
Come meet members of the SWRAC. Find
out more about what they do and how you can
help. Light refreshments will be served.
March 17, 2005, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Weiner Memorial Medical Center, 3rd Floor,
Classroom B, 300 South Bruce, Marshall, MN
Contact: Amy Roggenbuck at
[email protected]
Breathing Space
Healthy People 2010 Goals for Asthma
How does Minnesota measure against federal guidelines in terms of
asthma? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services coordinated an effort to create a set of national health goals to be reached by
the year 2010 called “Healthy People 2010.” Listed below are two of the
Healthy People 2010 asthma goals, along with Minnesota’s status on
meeting these goals and the U.S. rates from 1998 as a baseline for
comparison.
GOAL: Reduce hospitalizations for asthma
Asthma-related hospitalizations are an indicator of both the severity of
the disease and the barriers to regular asthma care. Minnesota has
already met, or is very close to meeting the Healthy People 2010 goals in
the 0-4 and 5-64 age groups; however, the 2002 rate for the 65 and older
group is still above the 2010 target.
Asthma-related hospitalizations (Rate per 10,000)
Minnesota, 2002
HP2010 target
Age 4 and under
25.4
25
5 to 64 years
6.0*
7.7*
65 years and older
13.8*
11*
*Age-adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. population.
U.S., 1998
45.6
12.5*
17.7*
GOAL: Reduce asthma deaths
Asthma deaths should be preventable with timely and proper diagnosis,
and appropriate care. In Minnesota, death rates in most of the age
groups are close to that of the nation. However, Minnesota’s death rate
for the 65 and older age group is significantly higher than both the
Healthy People 2010 target and the U.S. baseline rate.
Asthma mortality (Rate per 1,000,000)
Minnesota, 1999-2002
Age 4 and under
0*
5 to 14 years
2.4*
15 to 34 years
4.2
35 to 64 years
10.5
65 and older
104.3
*Rate based on fewer than 20 deaths.
HP2010 target
1
1
2
9
60
U.S., 1998
2.1
3.3
5
17.8
86.3
Next Steps
MDH and all of our partners are working hard to meet these goals and
the other 2010 goals for asthma. There are several public health projects
and programs throughout the state involving health care providers,
schools and communities in addition to our efforts to learn more about
risk factors for asthma deaths in Minnesotan’s 65 and older. Check
future issues of this newsletter, visit our website http://
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/asthma/ and visit the Minnesota
Asthma Coalition website at http://www.mnasthma.org/mnasthma/ for
more information and updates.
March 2005
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Welcome the New Faces of
Asthma in Minnesota
Erica Fishman, MPH, MSW
Asthma Program Coordinator
Erica Fishman is the new MDH Asthma
Program Coordinator. Prior to joining this
program, she worked in the non-profit,
governmental and academic sectors on
medicine and public health. Most recently,
she was the Director of Community Outreach
for the Maternal and Child Health Program at
the University of Minnesota School of Public
Health. She has provided training and
technical assistance in planning, evaluation,
policy development, advocacy, coalition
building and sustainability.
612-676-5213
[email protected]
Sally Sabathier
Office & Administrative Specialist
Sally Sabathier is the new Office & Administrative Specialist for the MDH Asthma
Program. She has been with MDH for 15
years. She previously worked in the Office of
Minority and Multicultural Health.
612-676-5226
[email protected]
Lori Swanson
MAC Regional Coordinator
Lori Swanson is the new Regional Coordinator for the East Central Regional Asthma
Coalition (ECRAC). She is also a Health
Educator for Kanabec County Public Health.
Previously, Lori has worked with youth on
tobacco prevention, promoting abstinence,
seatbelt safety, and various other youth risk
prevention activities. Lori has a Bachelor of
Applied Science degree in Community
Health Education.
320-679-6316
[email protected]
Doreen Hanson, RN
MAC Regional Coordinator
Doreen Hanson is the new Regional Coordinator for the West Central Regional Asthma
Coalition (WCRAC). As a RN, she has
worked in many settings including a hospital,
a nursing home and Douglas County Public
Health. She has been with the health department for almost 13 years and has worked
with several public health programs including
emergency preparedness and immunizations.
320-763-6018
[email protected]
Breathing Space
Air Quality Index
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) issued an
“unhealthy for all” air pollution alert for the first time in many years
from January 31 through February 2. The PCA provides information
on the quality of outdoor air called the Air Quality Index (AQI). The
AQI tells the public how polluted the outdoor air is and what steps
you can take to protect yourself.
Since pollutants found in outdoor air can trigger asthma episodes, it’s
important to know the AQI for your area. To check the AQI, go to the
PCA website at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly/. You can also sign
up to receive email notices of air quality alerts at http://
www.pca.state.mn.us/air/aqi-subscribe.html.
An elevated AQI in Minnesota is commonly the result of high levels
of either ozone or particulate matter. The MDH website provides
answers to questions about ozone and particulate matter:
Ozone http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/ozone.htm
Particulate Matter http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/pm.htm
Managing Asthma in Minnesota Schools
Since March 2004, we have had 21 trainings throughout the state with
over 600 participants. We have evaluated these trainings based on
three criteria: participant satisfaction, knowledge change, goals for
applying new knowledge and skills to practice.
Preliminary evaluation findings show that participants have been
satisfied with the trainings and that 92% of them would recommend
this training to a colleague. There has been a consistent increase in
asthma knowledge. Scores went from 69.5% on the pre-tests to
85.9% on the post-tests. Follow-ups of participant goals for application to practice have shown participants are using the knowledge and
confidence they received at the trainings to take action to improve the
lives of students with asthma. Some of the goals set by participants
include:
• Informing and educating school personnel: teachers, coaches,
administrators, etc.
• Applying the knowledge they gained to practice in their work with
students
• Usage of Asthma Action Plans
• Conducting in-services to educate personnel about asthma
• Creating and revising procedures and forms
If you would like more information about this program or to see a map
of all the school districts that have attended a training, visit our
website http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/asthma/.
Association for Nonsmokers - Minnesota (ANSR)
ANSR is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the human
and economic costs of tobacco use in Minnesota. To find a listing of
smoke-free restaurants, smoke-free apartments, tobacco-free parks or
to get information on other smoke-free issues, check out the ANSR
website at www.ansrmn.org or call Brittany McFadden at 651-6463005.
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March 2005
Questions about lung
health?
Call 1-800-548-8252
American Lung Association
Call Center
BREATHING SPACE, a quarterly respiratory disease newsletter,
is produced by the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma
Program. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide health
professionals, school nurses, and community members with
current research, information, and resources on respiratory disease.
BREATHING SPACE
For more information, or to request this
material in another format contact: Steve
Golat at 612-676-5244 or
[email protected]
MN Relay Service TDD: 1-800-627-3528
Breathing Space is also available on the
MDH Asthma website:
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/
asthma
This newsletter was supported by Grant//Cooperative Agreement
#U59/CCU522470 from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of
the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of
the CDC.
Editor
Subha Chandar, MPH
Production
Steve Golat
Commissioner of Health
Dianne Mandernach
Asthma Program Telephone Number: 612-676-5226
Toll Free Number: 1-877-925-4189
Asthma Web Site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/
asthma/index.html
Printed on Recycled Paper
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division
Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology
717 Delaware Street S.E.
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9441
Breathing SpaceSeptember 20041
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March 2005