ERIC Number: EJ1041651
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: N/A
Policy and System Change and Community Coalitions: Outcomes from Allies against Asthma
Clark, Noreen M.; Lachance, Laurie; Doctor, Linda Jo; Gilmore, Lisa; Kelly, Cindy; Krieger, James; Lara, Marielena; Meurer, John; Friedman Milanovich, Amy; Nicholas, Elisa; Rosenthal, Michael; Stoll, Shelley C.; Wilkin, Margaret
Health Education & Behavior, v41 n5 p528-538 Oct 2014
Objectives: We assessed policy and system changes and health outcomes produced by the Allies Against Asthma program, a 5-year collaborative effort by 7 community coalitions to address childhood asthma. We also explored associations between community engagement and outcomes. Methods: We interviewed a sample of 1,477 parents of children with asthma in coalition target areas and comparison areas at baseline and 1 year to assess quality-of-life and symptom changes. An extensive tracking and documentation procedure and a survey of 284 participating individuals and organizations were used to ascertain policy and system changes and community engagement levels. Results: A total of 89 policy and system changes were achieved, ranging from changes in interinstitutional and intrainstitutional practices to statewide legislation. Allies children experienced fewer daytime (P = 0.008) and nighttime (P = 0.004) asthma symptoms than comparison children. In addition, Allies parents felt less helpless, frightened, and angry (P = 0.01) about their child's asthma. Type of community engagement was associated with number of policy and system changes. Conclusions: Community coalitions can successfully achieve asthma policy and system changes and improve health outcomes. Increased core and ongoing community stakeholder participation rather than a higher overall number of participants was associated with more change.
Descriptors: Diseases, Program Descriptions, Parent Attitudes, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Documentation, Public Policy, Children, Interviews, Quality of Life, Surveys, State Legislation, Correlation, Community Involvement, Change, Regression (Statistics)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A