Physician-patient communication regarding asthma and work

Abstract

Background: Healthy People 2020-specific respiratory diseases objectives seek to increase the proportion of people with current asthma who receive appropriate asthma care. For adults, this includes a discussion of whether asthma is work-related.

Purpose: To establish a baseline measure of physician-patient communication regarding asthma and work.

Methods: This study used data from 27,157 non-institutionalized U.S. adult respondents of the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (analyzed in 2011). Adults employed at any time in the 12 months prior to the interview with a health-professional diagnosis of current asthma who have been told by a health professional that their asthma was probably work-related or ever discussed the relatedness of asthma and work were identified. Weighted proportions and, using logistic regression analysis, prevalence ORs for factors that may have predicted communication with a health professional regarding an asthma-work relationship were calculated.

Results: An estimated 6.6% (95% CI=5.1%, 8.2%) of employed adults with current asthma have been told that their asthma is work-related. Among those not so informed, 7.4% (95% CI=5.6%, 9.2%) ever discussed the topic. When responses to both questions were considered, the proportion was 13.5% (95% CI=11.3%, 15.8%). Employed adults aged ≥30 years, those reporting adverse asthma outcomes, and those of Hispanic ethnicity had higher odds of having communication with a health professional about the relation between their asthma and their work.

Conclusions: One in seven employed adults with asthma report communicating with their health professional about the role of workplace exposures in their asthma. Opportunities to increase this dialogue should be examined.