Asthma Link Effectiveness Trial

Asthma is an extremely common chronic disease in childhood with significant morbidity. The majority of asthma morbidity in children is due to medication non-adherence, and both morbidity and medication non-adherence disproportionately impact minoritized children. School-supervised asthma therapy ensures that children receive their preventive asthma medication daily at school and has shown efficacy in improving medication adherence and asthma health outcomes, particularly in low-income and racial/ethnic minority children. However, this strategy has not been widely adopted in practice to produce meaningful public health impact. To address this gap, the study team developed a new model, Asthma Link, which partners pediatric practices, schools, and families to deliver school-supervised asthma therapy. This intervention leverages established infrastructure and requires minimal resources to operate, enhancing sustainability in a real-world setting. The pilot trial of Asthma Link showed improved asthma symptoms when compared to an enhanced usual care condition, particularly among low-income, Black and Latino children, and demonstrated trial feasibility. Moreover, the research team has rigorously adapted this intervention for real-world use using input from diverse, multi-level community stakeholders.

This 14 site cluster randomized controlled trial will determine the effectiveness of Asthma Link versus an enhanced usual care condition in improving asthma health outcomes in school-aged children with poorly controlled asthma.

The investigators central hypothesis is that children in Asthma Link will have higher Asthma Control Test scores at 6 months compared with children in enhanced usual care; with maintained improvements at 12 months. The secondary hypothesis is that children in Asthma Link will have higher inhaled corticosteroid adherence and quality of life scores, and lower rates of asthma exacerbations, school absences and parental lost workdays compared with children in the enhanced usual care condition.

STUDY INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Child Inclusion Criteria:

• Meet the eligibility criteria for Asthma Link (as described below)
• Enrolled in Asthma Link (if randomized to the Asthma Link Condition)
• Able and willing to provide informed assent

Child Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable or unwilling to provide informed assent
• Developmental delay that would prevent study participation.

Parent Inclusion Criteria:

• Parent/guardian to patient
• 18 years or older
• Able to understand and communicate in English or Spanish
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Child eligibility for children enrolled in Asthma Link:

• children aged 5-14 years (enrolled in grade K-8)
• prescribed daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for asthma
• Asthma Control Test (ACT) score ≤19 OR 1 or more of ANY of following in the past 1 year: course of oral steroids, hospitalization, Emergency Department visit, sick visit for asthma
• parent/child report of poor ICS adherence on adherence checklist- i.e. child or parent says "Yes" when provider asks if they have difficulty remembering to take their medication or if they regularly take medication holidays or breaks
• able and willing to assent
• parental permission
• English or Spanish speaking