physicAl aCtiviTy In minOrity womeN With Asthma Intervention

Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic disease that disproportionately impacts African American
(AA) women. AA women have poorer asthma-related quality of life and higher rates of asthma
exacerbations, healthcare utilization and mortality compared to Caucasian women. Further, AA
women are less physically active than any other subgroup of adults, which may help explain
the asthma health disparities, found between AA and Caucasian women. Physical inactivity
among individuals with asthma is associated with poor asthma control and respiratory
function, greater health care utilization, and poorer quality of life. Given the connection
between poor asthma outcomes and physical inactivity, addressing physical activity (PA) among
sedentary AA women with asthma is imperative. Physical activity demonstrated improvement in
asthma outcomes specifically asthma control, quality of life and healthcare utilization.
Despite these benefits, fewer than 25% of AA women with asthma engage in regular physical
activity. The ACTION intervention: physicAl aCtiviTy In minOrity womeN with asthma is a
8-month community-based walking intervention refined to be applicable for sedentary AA women
with asthma.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Self-identify as female and black or AA

- Age 18-70

- Sub-optimally controlled persistent asthma based on Asthma Control Test (ACT <20)

- Wiling to enroll and provide written-informed consent

- Willing to be randomly assigned to treatment or control group

Exclusion Criteria: • Plans to relocate outside of the Chicagoland area during the study
period.

- Unable to ambulate without human assistance (ie. use of a wheelchair, scooter)

- History of significant mental illness (e.g. uncontrolled bipolar disorder, psychoses)

- Currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant over the next 3 months

- Diagnosis of COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) suggested by patient report of
doctor diagnosis or smoking history (>20 pack years)

- Poorly controlled high blood pressure (BP >180/100 at baseline visit)

- Family/household member of another study participant or staff member

- Inability to speak, read or understand English;

- Investigator discretion for safety or protocol adherence reasons

- Participation in ACTION focus groups (Aim 1) or pre-pilot (Aim 2) of the study