Implementation of an Asthma Program to Improve Asthma Identification and Education in Children

The primary objective of this study is to document the prevalence and associations between asthma, hypertension, and obesity in children living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its surrounding regions.

The secondary objective is to determine the impact of various educational interventions on child and caregiver knowledge of asthma.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertension; Obesity; Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Asthma education

Detailed Description

The Asthma Program will consist of six screenings and three camps each year, for two consecutive years. Screenings will be conducted in areas where populations are known to be at increased risk for asthma and its complications, such as inner-city, lower socioeconomic, African-American populations. Screenings will be conducted at churches or schools in these areas one month prior to each camp in an effort to identify children with undiagnosed or uncontrolled asthma and refer them to the camps. Camps will also be conducted in areas where populations are known to be at increased risk for asthma and its complications to improve ease of access. Asthma and smoking cessation education will be provided at each camp to children and caregivers. Baseline data will be collected at each camp and assessed. Longitudinal clinical outcomes will be assessed in children attending multiple camps.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 231

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15282
      • Duquesne University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Two screenings will be held prior to each camp, at two separate locations, for a total of six screenings per year. Screenings will be held at different locations throughout the city of Pittsburgh in an effort to increase identification and recruitment for subsequent camps. All children will be invited to participate in screenings, regardless of participation in the study. All children, ages 5-17 years, will be included in our study pending informed consent and assent. Camps will take place three times each year. All children will be invited to participate in camps, regardless of participation in the study. All children, ages 5-17 years will be included in our study pending informed consent and assent.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children, ages 5- 17 years attending the asthma camps and screenings.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children younger than 5 years of age and adults 18 years of age and older.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Asthma Screenings and Camps; Children, ages 5-17 years who participate in one of the asthma screenings or camps are eligible to participate in this study.

Behavioral: Asthma education; Two separate asthma education classes are conducted to target two age groups: 6-10 yrs and 10-15 yrs. With the guidance of pharmacy faculty, student pharmacists develop innovative educational activities directed at three of the most common barriers to proper asthma control: avoidance of asthma triggers; compliance with asthma medications and proper usage of inhalers; and the importance of an asthma action plan. There is a different group of student pharmacists participating in each camp and this allows for variation in educational activities, all reinforcing the same important aspects of optimal asthma management. Students create age-appropriate activities for each group. Parents are required to attend camps with their child and participate in the asthma education sessions.; Other Names: asthma knowledge intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
The primary outcome of this study is to document the prevalence of asthma, hypertension and obesity in children living in Pittsburgh's inner-city.	Up to three years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The secondary outcome of this study is to determine the impact of various educational interventions on child and caregiver knowledge of asthma.	A pre and post asthma knowledge test will be given to children and caregivers prior to and after participation in the educational session conducted at each asthma camp. A paired sample t-test was used for comparison of pre and post knowledge tests and a p value of less than 0.05 will be considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.	up to three years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Duquesne University
• Collaborators: Pennsylvania Department of Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jennifer P Elliott, PharmD, Duquesne University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 7, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 21, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): September 25, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 7, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2013
• Last Verified: August 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• 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: DU Protocol #10-11