Asthma+Dialogue

[While in Starbucks on Marshall Street, I happen to walk in on a conversation between two representatives from the “Beating Asthma” program. There are actually two “Beating Asthma” programs in existence: one being from Syracuse, NY and the other from Rhode Island. The two representatives (let’s call them rep1 for Syracuse and rep2 for Rhode Island) are discussing their methods of evaluating asthma and conducting research, in an attempt to decide which program has a more effective survey.

[I am over-hearing this conversation or slightly eavesdropping]

Rep1: The surveys we use are voluntary and there are two of them. The questions asked all relate to the patient and their families knowledge about the disease. We first conduct surveys before the lecture to gather any prior knowledge. The lecture then goes on in three parts for two hours, with speakers from local Syracuse University, pulmonologists, physicians, and other health professionals. These lectures are to further inform the families about the disease, its causes, effects, how to handle it, and so forth, as well as to share some experiences from intellectuals. Afterwards, the second survey is handed out.

Rep2: I understand that the surveys were conducted on people with the time and willingness to accept their disease. However, in Rhode Island, we’re trying to branch out to people of different ethnicities and cultures and tell them not to be afraid. We have trained nurses that work inside these people’s homes who speak their languages and understand their cultures conduct these surveys. Besides your programs surveys are too coy about asking simple deeper questions such as demographics. Your program shies away from stressing the importance of these surveys and the magnitude in which they may help our research. Sure you lure them with free Asthma equipment, but still not every family that attended the lecture filled out a survey.

Rep1: You make a good point! But consider the demographics of Syracuse (the city). Most people here with the disease are not Caucasian, have limited time, and have severe financial problems. Similar to the people your program targets, whom are mostly Latino foreigners, they lack the proper education on this disease. Our program focuses mainly on providing general knowledge to the families of Asthma patients whether they have severe or moderate Asthma. But your program seems to only concentrate on families that have severe Asthma and whom aren’t really in sync with the American culture and language. Our program at least branches out to people with varying levels of Asthma.

Rep2: That’s quite true.

Me: Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting and over-hearing your conversation. But may I join you in conversation after I buy you guys another cup of coffee?

Rep1 & Rep2: [In unison] Well, of course!

Rep1: So what about Asthma interests you? And, thank you for the second round of coffee.

Rep2: Yea! Thank you.

Me: Oh! No problem! Well, it’s just that I’ve had Asthma since I was a year old. And I must say it has affected me greatly, having taken over a large portion of my life. I understand what it feels like to not be able to breath and not know why you’re feeling this way all of a sudden. I had to work extremely hard in high school to build up my immune system by exercise, eating the right foods, and constantly staying in a clean environment. My Asthma over the years has gotten better, but it’s still there. And I know that my Asthma isn’t as severe as others, also that Asthma affects each person differently at different levels of intensity. What I’m trying to say is that I like the effort your programs are taking to evaluate as many people as they can to gather a broader range of data. But have you considered looking at some studies done in the past.

Rep1: The thing is that we have the information from the past, and we want to see how the disease has developed. Its just that Asthma as you said affects everyone differently, and so we want to know as much as possible about any additional information not shown through lab research.

Me: I was thinking that your two programs could unite or you could look back on some projects done on certain people. Like the one in Baltimore done on inner-city children, to test the severity of the disease. Their methods differed from yours, of course, but they did gather some interesting facts that your surveys missed. The school in which the children attended had controlled environments, such as the use of air ventilators. They were then asked a series of questions, and checked for any bodily signs of Asthma related problems. The children were also randomly picked.

Rep2: Hmmm. That’s quite interesting! I think its best if the health organization began to branch out and discuss their evidence. After all, our research is to the benefit of those who are suffering. Like we could start from Asthma and then associate with Health organizations dealing with the lungs and finally reach out to programs related to the body.

Me: The only thing is the cost of running these tests and whether their effective or not. Also, would the other associations be willing to share their information? You should start off small, which your currently doing by conducting surveys. But with additional research into neighboring communities and later elsewhere, I think you would benefit immensely.

Rep2: Yea…..But it would be great if we could find some kind of correlation that we could use that connected all Asthma patients.

Rep1: I think we should still continue our surveys, but also be in search of better methods of teaching the community, as well as branching out, in time.

Me: Yea, there are lots of ways to do research! I just hope these Asthma groups can collaborate and reach a wider audience, eventually spanning out globally but effectively. I’m not saying there aren’t groups out there now that aren’t doing what we’re proposing, but if teaching Asthma can somehow relate to other methods of research and education, I think it would be to everyone’s advantage.

Rep1 & Rep2: [nod in concurrence]

Me; Well it was nice meeting you guys but I have class soon. So maybe I’ll catch one of you later. Thanks so much for including me in your conversation!

Rep1 & Rep2: Okay, bye now!

[we shake hands, and I leave]