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Air Quality Outreach: Where Are We With Health Care Providers?. Laura Artates Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee and Vanderbilt Environmental Health Services Nashville, Tennessee. Background.
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Air Quality Outreach:Where Are We With Health Care Providers? Laura Artates Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee and Vanderbilt Environmental Health Services Nashville, Tennessee www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Background • The Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee was formed primarily to implement the Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) program as committed to in the Ozone Early Action Compact for the region. • The organization brought together the various organizations with a stake in the regional air quality issues. www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Representation The regional air quality picture had many pieces, but still needed someone to put together the puzzle… Carpool Walk/Bike Commuter Choice Vanpool Environment Trains Buses Regional Local Public Health www.CleanAirPartnership.info
AQAD Goals • Comply with Clean Air Act NAAQS • Keep the transportation funds flowing • Enable continued development Underlying purpose for the Clean Air Act? Protect Human Health www.CleanAirPartnership.info
AQAD Goals • Influence the General Public – change behavior to reduce emissions on Air Alert days • Improve air quality and reduce the number of high ozone or PM fine days experienced BUT • Messages also include health warnings for “sensitive populations” www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Health Messages • What the message says: Orange Air Quality Alert Tomorrow Sensitive Groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activities • Particle Pollution: People with Heart or lung disease (including diabetics), older adults, and children • Ozone: Active children and adults and people with lung disease www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Health Messages • What people hear: Air Alert: STAY INSIDE www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Reducing the Overkill Problems: • Generic messages from public information campaign not tailored to individuals • Complex issue cannot be explained in a brief statement Solutions: • Medical providers know the individuals and (may) understand complexities of air quality • Health care providers can talk one-on-one with concerned individuals www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Reaching Health Care Providers • Conferences • Hospital-sponsored “Update” conferences • Asthma, pediatric, etc. • Meetings/Trainings (Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits) • If you have them, will they come? • One-on-one (Pharmaceutical Rep style) • Membership organizations • Others? www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Needs Assessment Contacted Hospital CME coordinator regarding getting CME credits for a presentation/dinner for MD’s • Step one: provide a “needs assessment” to determine the demand for CME’s for your topic ??? www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Survey Goals • To determine if the health effects related to outdoor air quality are considered by healthcare providers when educating patients • To assess the needs of healthcare providers in educating patients regarding air quality as part of the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee’s (CAP) educational campaign www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Which Means??? • Do providers think about air quality, or even know about the air quality forecasts? • Do they think it’s important enough to spend time talking to their patients about it? • Do they have materials to help them inform their patients about ozone and PM fine? www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Do healthcare providers consider health effects related to outdoor air quality in patient education? No Don't Know 10% 1% Only patients with respiratory disease Yes 19% 70% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Educating patients on how outdoor air quality affects health will improve their management of respiratory and cardiovascular disease? Don't Know 1% Disagree No answer 1% 1% Neutral 13% Strongly Agree 40% Agree 44% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
No 20% Yes 45% Only patients with respiratory disease 35% Do you discuss the effects of outdoor air quality on health with your patients? www.CleanAirPartnership.info
How often do you instruct your patients to observe air quality forecasts as part of respiratory disease or cardiac disease management? Don't Know 4% Frequently Never 23% 18% Seldom Occasionally 25% 30% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Do you have resources available to educate your patients about…? Ground Level Ozone Particle Pollution Yes Yes 8% No Answer 10% No Answer 27% 29% No No 63% 63% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Are there any barriers that may prevent you from including outdoor air quality information in your practice? Other 2% Not enough staff 6% Not a priority Lack of time 4% 33% Lack of educational materials 30% Lack of information on outdoor air quality 25% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
What is your preferred method for obtaining additional materials on outdoor air quality? I do not desireaddition materials/ information Other 1% 6% Online training 26% CUE Workshop 8% Videos 10% Handouts/Pamphlets 49% www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Results It appears that healthcare providers consider the effects of outdoor air quality on their patients’ health. Healthcare providers lack the resources to effectively educate their patients about outdoor air quality. CAP is currently working with a marketing company to target healthcare providers and provide appropriate educational materials. www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Acknowledgements • Samille Jackson, M.S.P.H. conducted the survey as part of her Masters degree requirements at Meharry Medical College • Susan Miller, Tennessee Department of Health, CEDS provided data analysis and presentation assistance • Metro Public Health Department, Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee provided survey funding and support • Vanderbilt Environmental Health & Safety Department provided the opportunity to attend and speak at the conference www.CleanAirPartnership.info
Contact information: Laura Artates, P.E. Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee Laura@CleanAirPartnership.info 615-322-9022 U-2011 MCN 1161 21st Ave. South Nashville, TN 37232-2665 www.CleanAirPartnership.info