Clinical trial NCT00005711: Intervention for Hispanic Children With Asthma
Official title: Intervention for Hispanic Children With Asthma
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Asthma
Lung Diseases
Lead sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
First posted: 2000-05-26
Enrollment: 145
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 6
Maximum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: To design, implement, and evaluate an intervention program for Hispanic children with asthma which included both a physician education and a patient/family education component.

Detailed description: BACKGROUND:

Although asthma affects 6-10 percent of children aged 6-16 years, the prevalence of asthma in Hispanic groups and the degree of resulting morbidity were unknown in 1990. The study sought to answer the following questions: 1) Would a physician education intervention result in improved medical management for Hispanic children with asthma who were cared for within the context of an outpatient clinic? 2) Would a focused educational intervention for Hispanic children with asthma and their families result in decreased morbidity and improved quality of life? If effective, the physician education and patient education programs could serve as models for the implementation of similar programs in outpatient clinic settings which serve Hispanic children with asthma.

The study was part of a demonstration and education initiative "Interventions for Control of Asthma Among Black and Hispanic Children" which was released by the NHLBI in June 1989.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Prior to enrollment of patients, all physicians participated in an intervention which included the following elements: a brief seminar about medical management for children with asthma, introduction of protocols in low chart format (algorithms), use of a standardized progress note from for children with asthma, a series of computer-based simulations and individualized feedback to physicians. The effectiveness of the physician education component in changing physician behavior was measured by pre- /post-test, chart audit, and performance on computer-based simulations.

One hundred sixty (160) Hispanic children with asthma, aged 6-15 years who were cared for in a pediatric residents' continuity clinic were enrolled for study. A research associate interviewed parents and children separately using standardized questionnaires to obtain information about 1) health beliefs, 2) reported health behavior, 3) knowledge and attitudes about asthma, 4) functional morbidity, 5) acculturation, and 6) socio-demographic factors. A research nurse performed spirometry on each subject. Additional information was obtained by review of medical records and school attendance records. Patients were then randomized into treatment and control groups. Treatment group patients and their families participated in the patient education intervention. The intervention consisted of a series of four videotapes and written materials which focused on major aspects of self-management for children with asthma. Patients and families received the four modules at one month intervals. Selected modules were reviewed with the research nurse at appointed visits approximately six, 9, and 12 months following enrollment. Follow-up data were obtained by interview, medical record review, and spirometry at six, 12, 18, and 24 months following enrollment.

Intervention and control group children were compared for morbidity (the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, school days missed) and quality of life (impact on family and functional status), after controlling for confounding variables. Secondary data analysis examined the effect of the intervention on knowledge, reported health behaviors, and post-intervention spirometry.

Eligibility criteria: Physician diagnosis of asthma; moderate severity (1997 criteria), ie. \>= 2 ED visits or 1 hospitalization in past year or prescribed daily asthma medication.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Health care utilization
timeFrame: Enrollment, 12 months, 24 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: School absenteeism
timeFrame: Enrollment, 12 months, 24 months
measure: Lung function (FEV1 % predicted)
timeFrame: Enrollment, 6, 12, 18, 24 months
measure: Quality of life: Impact on Family
timeFrame: Enrollment, 6, 12, 18, 24 months
measure: Quality of life: functional status
timeFrame: Enrollment, 6, 12, 18, 24 months
measure: Self-management
timeFrame: Enrollment, 6, 12, 18, 24 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
References:
citation: Hendricson WD, Wood PR, Hidalgo HA, Ramirez AG, Kromer ME, Selva M, Parcel G. Implementation of individualized patient education for Hispanic children with asthma. Patient Educ Couns. 1996 Nov;29(2):155-65. doi: 10.1016/0738-3991(96)00861-0.
citation: Hendricson WD, Wood PR, Hidalgo HA, Kromer ME, Parcel GS, Ramirez AG. Implementation of a physician education intervention. The Childhood Asthma Project. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994 Jun;148(6):595-601. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1994.02170060049008.
citation: Kromer ME, Prihoda TJ, Hidalgo HA, Wood PR. Assessing quality of life in Mexican-American children with asthma: impact-on-family and functional status. J Pediatr Psychol. 2000 Sep;25(6):415-26. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/25.6.415.
citation: Hidalgo H, Prihoda T, Arfken C, Evans D, Hanson J, Lapidus J, Malveaux F, Mellins R, Murphy S, Ramos C, Rand C, Strunk R, Sussman L, Thompson L, Wood P. Impact of home smoke exposure on black and hispanic children with asthma: a multi-center study. 1996. p. A420. (Am J Respir Crit Care Med; vol. 153).
citation: Wood PR, Hidalgo HA, Prihoda TJ, Kromer ME, Hendricson WD, Ramirez AG, Marinez YM. Asthma in hispanic children: a controlled study of the impact of patient education on morbidity. 1996. p. A276. (Am J Respir Crit Care Med; vol. 153).