Investigation of the Role of Pictorial Asthma Action Plans to Promote Self-management in Rural Youth With Asthma
Condition: Asthma
MeSH terms: Asthma
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this study is to investigate the potential benefit of Pictorial versus Written
      Asthma Action Plans (AAPs) to support asthma management among young people with persistent
      asthma. Participants will be randomly allocated to the Pictorial or Written AAP group and
      followed up over a 6-month period. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from
      young people, parents and clinical teams involved in recruitment to assess the feasibility
      and acceptability of the Pictorial AAP (PAAP) software developed for this study, the PAAPs
      produced by the software, and the study procedures.
    

Detailed description: 
      Asthma is the most common chronic health condition of childhood, and continues to be
      associated with morbidity and mortality. Many children with persistent asthma follow a
      treatment plan including a prescription to take a daily inhaled corticosteroid (controller),
      often in conjunction with a daily oral controller medication, and a dose of an albuterol
      (rescue) inhaler before activity or exercise. Young people with asthma must add to this
      treatment plan in response to a flare in symptoms by taking additional medication and
      contacting their asthma provider or getting to a hospital. Adherence to daily medications is
      essential for maintaining lung health and reducing symptom flares, but asthma treatment is
      complex, requiring regular decision-making in response to symptoms and environmental issues
      like symptom triggers. As a result consistent adherence is a challenge for families and young
      people. It is recommended to provide an Asthma Action Plan (AAP) to all people diagnosed with
      asthma, summarizing their treatment plan using a traffic light format; Green Zone for daily,
      symptom-free management, Yellow Zone for symptom flare, and Red Zone for extreme symptom
      flare. Despite evidence for the effectiveness of AAPs, they are often not prescribed for
      reasons including readability and accessibility for families and young people, and asthma
      provider perceptions of their utility and suitability. In this study, young people with
      persistent asthma will be given a Written (WAAP) or Pictorial Asthma Action Plan (PAAP) to
      compare the differential impact on AAP knowledge, adherence to daily inhaler use, and asthma
      control. Software developed for the study, in collaboration with providers, young people with
      asthma and their parents, will be used to generate personalized PAAPs. Quantitative and
      qualitative data will be collected to explore perceptions of providers, parents and young
      people of different versions of AAPs, the influence of AAPs on asthma understanding and
      management, and the experience of taking part in the study, as well as to assess the impact
      of different AAPs on the asthma and psychosocial outcomes mentioned. The findings will inform
      the development of the PAAP software and as the basis for a definitive Randomized Controlled
      Trial of the efficacy of PAAPs.
    

Intervention name(s): Pictorial Asthma Action Plan; Written Asthma Action Plan
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will receive a PAAP plan, personalized to their asthma treatment. Each participant will take part in a brief education session during which their asthma provider will outline the treatment plan summarized in their PAAP.; Participants will receive a WAAP plan, personalized to their asthma treatment. Each participant will take part in a brief education session during which their asthma provider will outline the treatment plan summarized in their WAAP.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Pediatric; Education; Technology-supported intervention; Asthma Action Plan; Health literacy