Evaluating a Distance Learning Asthma Education Program for Pediatricians (The DALI Study)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has established guidelines for treating people with asthma. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a distance learning program that aims to educate doctors on these guidelines, specifically the use of inhaled corticosteroids to treat asthma in pediatric patients.

Detailed Description
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Asthma is a long-term lung disease that affects more than 22 million people in the United States. Symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Inhaled corticosteroids are a common medication used to treat asthma. NHLBI has established guidelines for doctors to reference when treating people with asthma. Study researchers previously evaluated a distance learning program aimed to educate doctors on the NHLBI guidelines and to improve pediatrician adherence to the guideline recommendations for the use of daily inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma in pediatric patients. This pilot study will evaluate a new version of the distance learning program. By using a distance learning program rather than a traditional face-to-face educational program, participants will be able to complete the program on their own schedule, and this flexibility may result in increased interest in the program. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the new distance learning program on changing pediatricians' behavior, attitudes, and knowledge regarding the NHLBI guidelines for the use of inhaled corticosteroids to treat pediatric patients with asthma. This study will enroll pediatricians. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the distance learning group or a control group. At baseline, all participants will complete questionnaires. Participants in the control group will not take part in any of the educational activities. Participants in the distance learning group will take part in a 1-hour Webinar, or teleconference, that will provide an orientation to the program and discuss the importance of the NHLBI guidelines. At any time between the first Webinar and a 6-week follow-up Webinar, participants will log into the study Web site and complete a training module that aims to educate participants on common barriers to prescribing daily inhaled corticosteroids. As an alternative to the Web site, participants may choose to view the training module on a CD-ROM. Six weeks after the first Webinar, participants will take part in a follow-up Webinar. At this time, study researchers will answer participants' questions and provide a program review. The Web site and study materials will remain available to participants in the distance learning group for 6 months after the follow-up Webinar; a list serve will also be made available to participants. At 1 and 6 months after the follow-up Webinar, all participants will complete questionnaires.

Official Title
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Distributed Asthma Learning Initiative

Conditions
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Asthma

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Distributed Asthma Learning Initiative (DALI) distance learning program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Board-eligible pediatricians involved in direct primary care for children Has access to a Windows or Macintosh computer with either a CD-ROM drive or Internet access Has access to a telephone for teleconference calls Willing to take part in the DALI educational seminar if assigned to the intervention group

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Participants will take part in a distance learning group. | Behavioral: Distributed Asthma Learning Initiative (DALI) distance learning program<br>* Participants will take part in two Webinar teleconferences, have access to an interactive Web site, and receive a CD-ROM of study materials and a toolkit.<br>|
| No Intervention: 2<br>Participants in the control group will not receive any study materials or take part in any study activities. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in physician asthma knowledge, attitudes, and treatment behavior |  | Measured at Months 1 and 6 | 
| Learner satisfaction |  | Measured at Months 1 and 6 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Daily Inhaled Corticosteroids, Distributed Learning, E-learning