Physician–Patient Communication Regarding Asthma and Work

BackgroundHealthy 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.PurposeTo establish a baseline measure of physician–patient communication regarding asthma and work.MethodsThis 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.ResultsAn 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.ConclusionsOne 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.