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Neighborhood racial composition and availability of asthma drugs in retail pharmacies.

Spernak SM, Mintz M, Paulson J, Burke HB, Gadkari M, Faselis C, Joseph JG

The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia 20007, USA. sms59@georgetown.edu

This study investigated whether there may be differences in the availability of asthma drugs and equipment in retail pharmacies in nonwhite and white neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. We conducted a telephone survey of a random sample of 38 retail pharmacies in predominately black or white neighborhoods. No differences in the reported availability of asthma drugs and equipment by neighborhood were found, although there was variability in availability of certain asthma drugs and limited availability of asthma equipment. Low demand was the most frequent reason cited by pharmacists regarding why asthma drugs or equipment were not in stock.

Published 30 November 2005 in J Asthma, 42(9): 731-5.
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