Clinical trial NCT01625364: Comparison of Asthma Programs for Schools
Official title: Comparison of Asthma Programs for Schools
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Asthma
Reactive Airway Disease
Keywords: Health Education
Health Counseling
Patient Education
Lead sponsor: University of Texas at Austin
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2012-06-21
Enrollment: 432
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 9
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose was to evaluate effectiveness and impact of an academic and counseling asthma health education program (SHARP) for fourth- and fifth-grade students diagnosed with asthma. Students attending schools randomized to the low-dose control condition received Open Airways for Schools (OAS). The first aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of SHARP, compared to the low-dose group, for students on cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral aspects of asthma management at 1, 12, and 24 months post-intervention. We hypothesized that compared to students enrolled in elementary schools who received the low-dose program, students in elementary schools that received SHARP would increase asthma knowledge (cognition) and logical reasoning abilities for managing acute episodes (cognition), acceptance of asthma as a chronic condition (psychosocial), and use of effective asthma health behaviors (behavior). The second aim was to evaluate the long-term impact of SHARP, compared to the low-dose group, for students on condition characteristics, use of healthcare services, and quality of life at 12 and 24 months post intervention. We hypothesized that compared to students enrolled in elementary schools who received the low-dose program; students in elementary schools who received SHARP would decrease asthma severity, use of healthcare services, and school absenteeism due to asthma, and increase participation in life activities (quality of life).

Detailed description: Over 7 million US children younger than age 18 years are currently diagnosed with asthma, and approximately 4 million children experience exacerbation of asthma symptoms annually. The NIH National Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma specify that part of a successful management program includes educating students with asthma and their caregivers about the condition. The guidelines recommend expanding education of students and families to schools and community settings. An academic and counseling program was developed for older school-age students with asthma and their family caregivers titled Staying Healthy-Asthma Responsible \& Prepared™ (SHARP). A two-group prospective randomized single-blinded design was used. The sample consisted of two cohorts of students diagnosed aged 9-12 years with asthma and their caregivers from varying socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Cohort dyads were drawn from 23 elementary schools that were located in a diverse, moderately sized, medically underserved, inner-city community. The schools were matched based on projected enrollment numbers, standardized reading and math scores, free/reduced lunch eligibility, and racial/ethnic proportions prior to randomization. Recently retired certified elementary schoolteachers, identified by the district, were trained to serve as interveners to deliver both programs in the schools during instructional time.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Student eligibility inclusion criteria included (a) a diagnosis of asthma, (b) availability to participate in scheduled classes or make-up sessions, and (c) verbal and written assent to participate in the study. Caregiver eligibility inclusion criteria included (a) being a caregiver of a student with asthma, (b) ability to understand English, and (c) expressed availability to attend and participate in the community program.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Exclusion criteria included student's expressed unwillingness to participate or lack of consent from parent/legal guardian. Severity of symptoms was not a criterion for eligibility. Exclusion criteria included expressed unwillingness to participate or lack of consent.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Reasoning about Asthma Management
timeFrame: 24 months or 2 years post-intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Participation in Life Activities
timeFrame: 24 months or 2 years post-intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Austin
country: United States
facility: The University of Texas at Austin
state: Texas
Study officials:
affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin
name: Eileen K Kintner, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: