Asthma in Central Texas Project

Enhancing Children's and Parents' Asthma Management

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness and disproportionately affects children who are ethnic minorities and poor. Few studies of childhood asthma have been conducted with children who live in rural areas or have included Mexican American children in their samples. This study builds on the original R01NR007770 with findings that demonstrated the intervention could improve children's asthma self-management, asthma knowledge, metered dose inhaler skill, asthma severity, and parents' asthma management and access to care. In this competing continuation, the investigators added a third arm to the current research design with schools randomized into either an in-school asthma intervention, an in-school attention-control intervention, or an alternate intervention-delivery format of a single 5.5-hour asthma day camp. The tri-ethnic sample will be composed of 320 Mexican-American, African-American, and White rural school-aged children (grades 2-5) who have asthma and their parents. In addition, the investigators propose adding a non-invasive measure of chronic airway inflammation (exhaled nitric oxide) to assess the impact of changes in asthma management on airway inflammation. Families will be followed for a full year with data collection at baseline and at 1-month, 4-months, and 7-months after the intervention to assess improvement in children's asthma morbidity, asthma severity, airway inflammation, family asthma management and quality of life. Hypotheses (H): Children in the Camp-Workshop group and the School-Home group will demonstrate equivalent improvements, but greater improvements than the Attention-Control group in:(H1.1) their asthma severity and airway inflammation from the Time 1 assessment when compared to Time 4 assessment; (H1.2) office visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations for asthma, and absenteeism for the study year (Time 4) when compared to the pre-study year (Time 1); and (H1.4) Parents in the intervention arms will demonstrate sustained improvements in asthma caregiver's quality of life (QOL0 from the pre-study year (Time 1) to the end of the study year (Time 4) measurement, when compared to the Attention-Control group.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Asthma in-school class; Behavioral: Asthma Day Camp; Behavioral: Health Promotion in-school class

Detailed Description

Families are recruited at the beginning of the school year (Time 1, October-November); parents consent and child assent obtained and baseline data collected in fall. The intervention is provided in December-January. Follow-up data are collected at February (Time 2), April (Time 3), and August (Time 4).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 292
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
      • The University of Texas at Austin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 13 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• parent reports the child has a diagnosis of asthma made by a medical provider;
• has had asthma symptoms in the previous 12 months;
• speaks either English or Spanish.

Exclusion Criteria:

• has a significant co-morbidity that would preclude participation in classes (e.g., severe cerebral palsy, oxygen dependent conditions)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Asthma in-school class; Provided in 16 15-minute sessions (4 hours total didactic time); scheduled 3 sessions/week. The content is provided by trained asthma educators. The Asthma Plan for Kids (AP-K) is a 7-step curriculum for children to use when responding to asthma symptoms. Skills practice with placebo metered dose inhaler (MDI) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) meters with PEF score interpretation. Topics include (a) identifying lung function, asthma warning signs, symptoms, and triggers; (b) learning skills to manage symptoms, including PEF meter score interpretation, communication with adults (e.g. teachers, coaches, family members), medication use and MDI technique; (c) evaluating asthma symptoms and the effectiveness of management; and (d) discussing how to stay active in a safe manner.	Behavioral: Asthma in-school class; Other Names: Asthma Plan for Kids
Experimental: Asthma Day Camp; The asthma day camp is provided in a single day session (5.5 hours total) by trained camp staff. The same skills (i.e., placebo metered dose inhaler (MDI) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) meters) and topics [a) identifying lung function, asthma warning signs, symptoms, and triggers; (b) learning skills to manage symptoms, including PEF meter score interpretation, communication with adults (e.g. teachers, coaches, family members), medication use and MDI technique; (c) evaluating asthma symptoms and the effectiveness of management; and (d) discussing how to stay active in a safe manner] are covered as those in the asthma in-school classes.	Behavioral: Asthma Day Camp
Sham Comparator: Health Promotion in-school class; The mock comparison follows the in-school format of 16 15-minute sessions; scheduled 3 sessions/week. The content is provided by trained health educators and includes skills practice (i.e., handwashing and brushing teeth) and health promotion topics of nutrition, healthy snacks, preventing colds, and safe exercise.	Behavioral: Health Promotion in-school class

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Absenteeism, End of Study	(Days absent/days enrolled)x100 = absenteeism. Using data provided by the school district at the end of the study year.	12 months
Quality of Life, End of Study	Self reported asthma-related quality of life. Outcome data were collected at end of study (Time 4). The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life scale. Minimum score 23 to maximum score of 115. A higher score indicates worse quality of life. Mean scale scores are computed.	12 months
Number of Days Hospitalized, During Study Year	Number of days hospitalized for asthma. Data were obtained from parent report at the second, third, and fourth data collection point. The number of hospitalization days were summed for a total number at the end of the 12 months.	12 months
Emergency Department Visits, Study Year	Number of visits to Emergency Department for asthma. Data is obtained from parents at three time points (time 2, 3, and 4) and summed for total number of visits to the emergency department for asthma during the study year.	12 months
Number of Asthma Hospitalizations Pre-Study Year	Number of times hospitalized for asthma. Data is obtained from parents for the pre-study year for the previous 12 months.	12 months before baseline
Absenteeism Pre-study Year	(Days absent/days enrolled)x100 = absenteeism. Using data for the 12 months prior to study enrollment as the pre-study year. Data is provided by the participating school districts.	12 months before baseline
Number of Days in Hospital for Asthma, Pre-Study Year	Number of days hospitalized for asthma. Data is obtained from parents for the pre-study year for the previous 12 months.	12 months before baseline
Number of Asthma Hospital Stays, During Study Year	Number of hospital admissions for asthma. Data were obtained from parent report at the second, third, and fourth data collection point. The number of hospitalizations were summed for a total number at the end of the 12 months.	12 months
Emergency Department Visits, Pre-study Year	Number of visits to Emergency Department for asthma. Data is obtained from parents for the pre-study year for the previous 12 months.	12 months before baseline
Quality of Life, Pre-study Year	Self reported asthma-related quality of life. Data were collected at study enrollment (time 1). The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life scale. Minimum score 23 to maximum score of 115. A higher score indicates worse quality of life. Mean scale scores are computed.	12 months before baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Asthma Self-management, Time 4	Child self-report of asthma preventive and management activities, collected at each of 4 time points. This is the Time 4, final measure. Asthma Inventory for Children, 18-item scale, response scale 1-5, minimum score = 18, maximum score = 65, higher score = more frequent asthma self management behaviors.	Time 4, at 12 months
Home Asthma Management, Time 4, End of Study	Parent report of asthma preventive and treatment activities. Data collected at final study visit, Time 4. Home Asthma Management scale, asthma preventive and asthma treatment behaviors performed by parent, response scale 1-5, scale range 16-70, higher scores = more frequent home asthma management behaviors.	Time 4 at 12 months
Metered Dose Inhaler Skill, Time 4	Observation score of child's skill in using a placebo metered dose inhaler (a teaching inhaler). Observation data recorded by trained data collectors. 8-item scale listing the steps to perform proper inhalation technique. Number of correct steps are summed. Higher score = better skill in using inhaler. Collected at final, time 4 data visit.	Time 4 at 12 months
Medication Adherence, Time 4	Parent report of their child remembering/forgetting to take medications. 4-item scale (forgot to take medicine, was careless in taking medicine, stopped taking medicine due to feeling better, stopped taking medicine due to feeling worse), dichotomous response scale (yes, no), sum of number of yes items. Range 0-4, higher score means worse adherence. Data are collected at final data point, Time 4.	Time 4 at 12 months
Asthma Self-management, Time 3	Child self-report of asthma preventive and management activities, collected at each of 4 time points. This is the Time 3 measure. Asthma Inventory for Children, 18-item scale, response scale 1-5, minimum score = 18, maximum score = 65, higher score = more frequent asthma self management behaviors.	Time 3 at 9 months
Asthma Self-management, Time 2	Child self-report of asthma preventive and management activities, collected at each of 4 time points. This is the Time 2 measure. Asthma Inventory for Children, 18-item scale, response scale 1-5, minimum score = 18, maximum score = 65, higher score = more frequent asthma self management behaviors.	Time 2 at 5 months
Asthma Self-management, Time 1, Baseline	Child self-report of asthma preventive and management activities, collected at each of 4 time points. This is the baseline, Time 1 measure. Asthma Inventory for Children, 18-item scale, response scale 1-5, minimum score = 18, maximum score = 65, higher score = more frequent asthma self management behaviors.	Time 1, baseline
Home Asthma Management, Time 1, Baseline	Parent report of asthma preventive and treatment activities. Data are collected at study enrollment, Time 1, baseline visit. Home Asthma Management scale, asthma preventive and asthma treatment behaviors performed by parent, response scale 1-5, scale range 16-70, higher scores = more frequent home asthma management behaviors.	Time 1, baseline
Home Asthma Management, Time 2.	Parent report of asthma preventive and treatment activities. Data collected at the time 2 visit. Home Asthma Management scale, asthma preventive and asthma treatment behaviors performed by parent, response scale 1-5, scale range 16-70, higher scores = more frequent home asthma management behaviors.	Time 2 at 5 months
Home Asthma Management, Time 3	Parent report of asthma preventive and treatment activities. Data collected at third time point (Time 3). Home Asthma Management scale, asthma preventive and asthma treatment behaviors performed by parent, response scale 1-5, scale range 16-70, higher scores = more frequent home asthma management behaviors.	Time 3 at 9 months
Metered Dose Inhaler Skill, Time 3	Observation score of child's skill in using a placebo metered dose inhaler (a teaching inhaler). Observation data recorded by trained data collectors. 8-item scale listing the steps to perform proper inhalation technique. Number of correct steps are summed. Higher score = better skill in using inhaler. Collected at time 3 data visit.	Time 3 at 9 months
Metered Dose Inhaler Skill, Time 2	Observation score of child's skill in using a placebo metered dose inhaler (a teaching inhaler). Observation data recorded by trained data collectors. 8-item scale listing the steps to perform proper inhalation technique. Number of correct steps are summed. Higher score = better skill in using inhaler. Collected at final, time 2 data visit.	Time 2 at 5 months
Metered Dose Inhaler Skill, Time 1	Observation score of child's skill in using a placebo metered dose inhaler (a teaching inhaler). Observation data recorded by trained data collectors. 8-item scale listing the steps to perform proper inhalation technique. Number of correct steps are summed. Higher score = better skill in using inhaler. Collected at enrollment visit, Time 1 data visit.	Time 1 at baseline
Medication Adherence, Time 1	Parent report of their child remembering/forgetting to take medications. 4-item scale (forgot to take medicine, was careless in taking medicine, stopped taking medicine due to feeling better, stopped taking medicine due to feeling worse), dichotomous response scale (yes, no), sum of number of yes items. Range 0-4, higher score means worse adherence. Data are collected at study enrollment, Time 1.	Time 1 at baseline
Medication Adherence, Time 2	Parent report of their child remembering/forgetting to take medications. 4-item scale (forgot to take medicine, was careless in taking medicine, stopped taking medicine due to feeling better, stopped taking medicine due to feeling worse), dichotomous response scale (yes, no), sum of number of yes items. Range 0-4, higher score means worse adherence. Data are collected at Time 2 visit.	Time 2 at 5 months
Medication Adherence, Time 3	Parent report of their child remembering/forgetting to take medications. 4-item scale (forgot to take medicine, was careless in taking medicine, stopped taking medicine due to feeling better, stopped taking medicine due to feeling worse), dichotomous response scale (yes, no), sum of number of yes items. Range 0-4, higher score means worse adherence. Data are collected at Time 3 visit.	Time 3 at 9 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lung Inflammation, Time 4	Exhaled breath condensation collected and sent for lab analysis of NO3. Data collected at Time 4 visit. Higher values represent greater airway inflammation.	Time 4 at 12 months
Lung Inflammation, Time 1	Exhaled breath condensation collected and sent for lab analysis of NO3. Data collected at Time 1 visit. Higher values represent greater airway inflammation.	Time 1 at baseline
Lung Inflammation, Time 2	Exhaled breath condensation collected and sent for lab analysis of NO3. Data collected at Time 2 visit. Higher values represent greater airway inflammation.	Time 2 at 5 months
Lung Inflammation, Time 3	Exhaled breath condensation collected and sent for lab analysis of NO3. Data collected at Time 3 visit. Higher values represent greater airway inflammation.	Time 3 at 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin
• Collaborators: National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): August 31, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 24, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2015
• Last Verified: April 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; self-management; children; asthma
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Asthma
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01NR007770 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)