Introduction of Asthma APGAR tools improve asthma management in primary care practices

Figures & data

Figure 1 Asthma APGAR – patient questions.

Figure 2 Care algorithm.

Table 1 Asthma APGAR practice audit questions

Asthma APGAR Tool for practice assessment score: For each question: Y = yes present, N = not documented, and U = unsure.
1. Activity: Was the number of missed activity days in the past 2 wks noted?
Y	N	U
2. Persistence
a. Was the number of days with symptoms in the past 2 wks noted?
Y	N	U
b. Was the number of nights with symptoms in the past 2 wks noted?
Y	N	U
3. TriGGers: Were triggers noted as being discussed?
Y	N	U
4. Adherence to asthma medications: Were the type and frequency of asthma medications taken in the past 2 weeks noted?
Y	N	U
5. Response to therapy: Was the patient’s response to therapy noted?
Y	N	U

Table 2 Demographics of clinics, and clinician health professionals

Clinic size N = 24	n	Type of clinic N = 24	n	MD N	NP/PA N	Location (States)	N	Male Clinicians %	Average age Yrs.
<3 MDs	3					MN	20
3 to 8 MDs	16					PA	1
9 to 15 MDs	3	One specialty	13	194	17	WA	1	74	47
		Multispecialty	11
>15 MDs	2					IL	1		range (28–68)
						WI	1

Abbreviations: MD, medical doctor; IL, Illinois; MN, Minnesota; PA, Pennsylvania; WA, Washington; WI, Wisconsin.

Figure 3 Histogram for before and after documentation of asthma information in the medical records.