The Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) aims to assist in reducing the burden of asthma in Australia by developing, collating and interpreting data relevant to asthma prevention, management and health policy.

Statistical methods for monitoring asthma       **NEW**

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This statistical procedure manual documents and shares the experience of the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) in analysing national asthma-specific population data. Since its formation in 2002, ACAM have undertaken extensive analyses of a wide range of administrative and population health data to monitor asthma in Australia. In this manual, the approaches developed by ACAM for interrogating large population datasets from the point of receipt until delivery of final analyses are documented. It is anticipated that the principles applied in relation to interrogating data for asthma monitoring purposes will also be applicable to other chronic disease areas.

Australian asthma indicators: Five year review of asthma monitoring in Australia

Web-based report only

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In 2004, the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring reviewed the proposed indicators for monitoring asthma in Australia and published a set of recommended indicators. An accompanying data development plan was published in 2005. This report reviews the outcomes of the indicator review, the lessons learnt through experience with various data sources, progress so far with asthma data development and suggests future directions for national asthma monitoring.

Survey Questions for Monitoring National Asthma Indicators

Web-based report only

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This report provides a recommended module of survey questions that can be used to collect key information about asthma such as prevalence, management issues, level of disease control and impact of the disease on the health system and individuals. The recommended questions are the result of a comprehensive review and development process and will help ensure consistency in the data collected to monitor core asthma indicators. The report is relevant to epidemiologists and other researchers who are conducting health surveys in the population.

Patterns of Asthma Medication Use in Australia

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Drug therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for controlling asthma and preventing and relieving attacks. This report describes the first study to use national data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to investigate the patterns of asthma medication use in Australia. It examines the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the frequency of use of these medications, the potency of prescribed medications and the relationships between different classes of asthma medications. The methods used in this study are likely to be applicable to researchers investigating medication use for other conditions and diseases. The results will also be of interest to clinicians and policy makers in asthma.

Asthma in Australia: findings from the
2004-05 National Health Survey

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This report presents asthma results from the 2004–05 National Health Survey. The National Health Survey is conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics every three years and currently provides the only nation-wide source of self-reported experiences with asthma including prevalence, management, quality of life and health-related behaviours available in Australia. This report makes comparisons between people with and without asthma, investigates the effect of social and demographic characteristics and compares the findings from this, most recent, survey with those from the previous National Health Survey conducted in 2001. It will be of value to all those interested in having updated information on the status of asthma in Australia, such as those involved in asthma care and government policy makers.