J Natl Med Assoc
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Asthma affects minority citizens in Chicago disproportionately. Policy changes introducing hydrofluroalkane (HFA) inhalers may worsen already-existing health disparities related to asthma. ⋯ The Chicago Breathe Project resulted in improved resident knowledge and skill on inhaler use during HFA transition. Regional educational approaches targeting internal medicine residencies in urban areas may be helpful to address future changes in chronic disease management. This training can be taken into minority communities to provide high-quality interactive educational workshops directly to patients and their families.
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To evaluate the appropriateness and intermediate outcomes of telemetry admissions. ⋯ Appropriate telemetry admission was observed in more than 80% of cases. Our telemetry policy had very good agreement with standard guideline. However, the low rate of major telemetry events in all patient groups suggests current guidelines might have considerable limitations.
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(1) To determine the patient's comprehension of the reasons for admission in the emergency department and (2) to examine what, if any, correlation there is between patients' understanding and satisfaction with care. ⋯ Successful communication between doctors and patients around the reasons for admission and test results can be an important predictor of patient satisfaction. Medical information not communicated in an understandable way to patients can lead to lower levels of patient satisfaction.
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Asthma is a chronic illness among children. Minority children may be vulnerable to asthma complications since more than half are from households that are poor or near poor, and some have no health insurance. Asthma management plans are important for the long-term treatment of asthma and beneficial for self-management. ⋯ Findings showed that whites were significantly more likely than Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics to have an asthma management plan (OR, 1.66; p = .0031). In this study, children who reported Children's Health insurance Program (CHIP) coverage were twice as likely to have an asthma management plan (OR, 2.67; p = .0004). Mandating all insurers to provide an asthma management plan to children with asthma may reduce the race-based inequities and differences in asthma management plan status.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of health perceptions and health status in African Americans and Caucasians.
This study was designed to compare the health perceptions of adults based on race (African American and Caucasian) and gender in the southern United States to determine if health perception contributed to health disparity between African Americans and Caucasians. ⋯ Health perceptions of African Americans are often not consistent with their actual health, and this is especially true for African American males. Their perceptions appear to influence the value they place on health behaviors which may result in a reduced health status.