In Oregon in 2004, 9.7% of adults and 6.9% of children reported having current asthma. Together, these percentages suggest that approximately 325,000 adults and children in Oregon have asthma.

Oregonians living with asthma may be affected by healthcare disparities related to socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, and geographic isolation. While varying in magnitude, these disparities exist because of limited access to primary care, lack of educational materials that are easy to read and culturally appropriate, and few community resources available to support individuals and families living with asthma.

 Oregon Asthma Leadership Plan (pdf)

There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with quality medical care and good patient self-management. The Oregon Asthma Program’s mission is to advance policies, environments, and systems that promote health and prevent and manage asthma and other chronic diseases. The following priority areas have been identified to establish an infrastructure for addressing long-term asthma outcomes:

1.    Partnerships to Address Asthma

2.    Self-Management of Asthma

3.    Public Awareness of Asthma

4.    Healthcare Resources

5.    Air Quality and Asthma

6.    Schools and Asthma

7.    Worksites and Asthma

The Oregon Asthma Leadership Plan outlines the statewide goals, objectives, and strategies needed to address and measure these priority areas. The Leadership Plan is a Statewide Call for Action to achieve positive long-term asthma outcomes and to improve the quality of life for all Oregonians with asthma.

Endorsements

The following groups have demonstrated their interest and support of a coordinated approach to ensure that all Oregonians with asthma receive optimal medical care, and have the information and skills they need to manage their disease. Endorsement of this Leadership Plan does not necessarily mean agreement with every strategy identified in this Leadership Plan.