The Lung Health Center's Asthma Core Elements study was the most recent of a series of NIH-funded asthma research studies. It involved the recruitment of 267 subjects to test an educational intervention designed to both improve self-management skills of adults with asthma and assist physicians in various community-based settings.

The UAB Comprehensive Asthma Program grew out of this successful research study and is now working with adults who have asthma and other allergic breathing problems to help them develop normal lifestyles. Physicians, nurses, and educators provide a comprehensive and individual treatment program. Chances for overcoming asthma are greatly increased when patients understand their condition and learn self-management skills.

Publications from this series of studies and other works in progress show that asthma care delivered in specialty clinics, such as UAB's, which follows the recommended NAEP Guidelines, can decrease health care utilization and asthma symptoms.