Introduction

Table of Contents

Introduction
Method
Analysis
Results
Discussion
Directions for Future Research

As asthma incidence has soared, communities across the nation are struggling with innovative ways to raise awareness about asthma; to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma; and to mobilize community resources in a struggle against the rise of asthma. In the past, an effective strategy used by communities to address a multitude of public health issues has been the development of community-based coalitions. In response to the rise in asthma morbidity and mortality in America, asthma coalitions have been launched in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 60 coalitions are now in existence in the United States. These coalitions are in varying degrees of organizational development and receive widely disparate resources to support their growth and development. All have the same purpose: to promote awareness of the dangers of asthma and to join in efforts to assist those afflicted with asthma by taking a community approach to an urgent public health issue.

This study was conducted under the sponsorship of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and its philanthropic arm, The CHEST Foundation, and in collaboration with the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), coordinated by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The study involved a survey of existing asthma coalitions, interviews with individuals involved in these coalitions, and reviews of relevant publications and documents. The purpose of this survey was to take a first step toward understanding asthma coalitions and to describe the coalitions according to their operational processes and structural characteristics. Additionally the study served to probe coalitions at various stages of development for those factors that have influenced their implementation.

Critical to the success of these coalitions is the identification of those factors that facilitate or impede coalition effectiveness. In order to accomplish this task, it is first necessary to develop a better understanding of asthma coalitions. Questions that could be addressed include the following:

• How are the coalitions formed and maintained?
• How are members recruited?
• How do the coalitions keep their members and leaders informed?
• What types of conflict arise in coalitions?
• What are the members’ perceptions of cohesiveness and task focus in the coalitions?
• How is work distributed among coalition members, leaders, and staff?
• What is the composition of the membership?
• What is the organizational structure of coalitions?
• How are coalitions supported financially?
• What activities are being conducted by coalitions?
• What linkages exist between coalitions and community sectors.

The following report describes the methodology used in the coalition study and discusses the results.

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