Physician Brothers Rap to Reach Teens - CD "Asthma Stuff" helps to teach young people about asthma care and treatment - Brief Article

0 Comments | Family Practice News, Sept 15, 2000 | by Doug Brunk

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rap music may have a reputation for bad-boy images and raunchy lyrics, but it can be a useful tool for educating adolescents about their health.

Or so say two family physicians from Queens (N.Y.) who have became part-time rap artists in an effort to get health messages out to teenagers.

Rap is enormously popular, Dr. Matthew Clarke noted at the annual National Congress of Family Practice Residents and National Congress of Student Members. Sales of rap CDs--"the choice of adolescents"--increased 150% between 1996 and 1999.

Adolescents apparently spend a lot of time listening to rap. In fact, kids listen to an average of 10,500 hours of music between the ages of 13 and 18--slightly less than the total cumulative hours spent in the classroom from kindergarten through high school (Pediatrics, 92[1]:24-31, 1993).

In 1998, Matthew and his brother, Dr. John Clarke, set out to investigate the value of rap music as a tool for educating adolescents about the causes and treatment of asthma. For the study, 125 students from a Queens high school watched a 15-minute asthma educational video that included a rap song entitled "Asthma Stuff." The rest of the video included a dialogue between two young adults who portrayed asthmatics.

Before and after watching the video, the students filled out a survey of 22 questions about topics such as asthma triggers and how to use an inhaler.

Mean scores on the test increased 28% after students watched the video. Many stated the rap song caught their interest and the discussion portion of the video had less of an impact.

In another survey of Queens high schoolers who watched the video, 78% thought that rap music could be used to teach, and 63% said that they listened to rap. This feedback prompted the Clarke brothers to develop an educational CD on asthma called "Asthma Stuff."

Written, produced, and performed by John, the CD is intended for children, adolescents, and adults with asthma, as well as parents and caretakers of asthmatic children. The "Asthma Stuff" lyrics discuss asthma and its symptoms, triggers, and the proper techniques for using asthma inhalers. At the meeting, the brothers performed the lyrics as the background music blared through loudspeakers.

One verse reads: "No doubt cause it's not a joke/when you wheeze can't breathe and start to choke. The situation concerns information/about mucus, muscle spasm, and inflammation. The destination, a generation that's asthma-free/so hear the wise and realize it's just an allergy."

Then the chorus: "Two puffs of the asthma stuff/twice a day/stops the wheeze and helps you to breathe."

The CD also contains a physician consultation covering the pathophysiology of the disease, symptoms, asthma triggers, medication, and prevention.

After the song gained recognition in the New York press upon its release in January of 1999--including an endorsement by rapper L.L. Cool J--the Clarke brothers found themselves receiving invitations to speak to asthma groups all over the country. Their latest big gig is a special presentation during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians this month.

They also began to field numerous requests to perform the song live, a development that they didn't expect when they launched the CD. Before long, they were signing autographs after their performances. "I'll never get used to that," said John, who has been an avid fan of rap music since childhood.

The Clarke brothers acknowledged that most rap is far from "clean," and advised physicians and parents to follow recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics on the impact of music lyrics and music videos on children and youth (Pediatrics 98:1291-21, 1996). They also advised including a "music history" as part of regular adolescent health checkups. (See box below.)

The brothers try to limit their speaking engagements to evenings and weekends, but that may become increasingly difficult. They're finishing production on four new educational CDs: "Bad Breath and Brown Teeth" (smoking cessation); "Have It All" (drug and alcohol abuse), "Talk It Out" (curbing violence), and "Sex and Drugs" (about HIV and STDs), which are due out by the end of the year.

Calling the work "a lot of fun," Matthew challenged physicians to think of other creative ways to reach adolescents.

"Asthma Stuff" is available for $12, plus shipping and handling ($2 in the United States, $3 in Canada). Make checks payable to MDMD Inc., P.O. Box 037-097, Elmont, NY 11003.

Tips on Taking a 'Music History'

Dr. Matthew Clarke never used to ask his adolescent patients about the music they listen to. Now he works that question into every office visit because the answers may help him explore issues that are relevant to their health.

For example, if a patient listens mainly to rap music, "you know you may have to focus in on questions about sex, drugs, and violence," he said. He asks questions like "How do you feel about the way women are portrayed in this kind of music?" or "How do you feel about the way sex is portrayed?"