This study will assess the impact that asthma has on caregivers who have children participating in the CarePatterns® program for Asthma.

At baseline and annual contact with the CarePatterns® nurse, each caregiver answers a short survey to quantify the effect their child's asthma has on their productivity at work (1). The goal of the survey is to quantify the amount of work missed (absenteeism) and the effect of the impact of the disease while working (presenteeism).

Of 527 Caregivers that responded to the productivity survey during the 2002 annual cycle, 71% report they work for pay and are caregivers of children with ages ranging from 18 months to 17.5 years. The survey respondents in this population reported an average of 2.75 days of missed work at baseline assessment and 0.75 missed days at annual survey due to their child's asthma. The caregivers reported that their productivity at work was not impacted due to their child's disease.

Disease specific intervention and education helps caregiver employees manage their child's asthma to the betterment of their own working environment. The impact of asthma on the caregiver is substantial and should be assessed in all disease management programs.

1) D. Chrostowski, J. Pongracic, J. Berger, et al., Prospective Study to Validate CarePatterns Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and Pediatric Caregivers Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, April 2001