School-based Approaches to Help Pre-teens Manage Asthma

BACKGROUND:

To date, no data provide information on the effects of middle school based interventions for pre-teens with asthma or the advantages of an approach that recognizes the importance of peer influence on pre-teen's asthma behavior. Interventions to reach low income minority populations are particularly needed.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

If only one primary outcome is to be specified, it would be asthma morbidity, as evident in asthma symptoms. Data to assess outcomes will be collected at baseline, and 12 and 24 months post program through parent interviews and student surveys.

Additional primary outcomes listed in the protocol include: Asthma related quality of life, disease management behavior and academic performance.

Secondary outcomes include: peer support, school attendance, physical activity, health care use, and smoking behavior.

Children identified for this research will be a sample of 6th grade students enrolled in 19 public middle schools in Detroit, Michigan who meet the following criteria: 1) attend a participating school, 2) be 11-12 years old at the time of entry into the study (enrolled in 6th grade) and 3) based on NAEPP guidelines (a) have a diagnosis of asthma and have active asthma symptoms and/or have received a prescription for asthma medications in the last year, or (b) report the presence of 3 of 5 non-exercise related asthma symptoms in the last year on five or more occasions, or (c) report two or more exercise related asthma symptoms in the past year on five or more occasions, or (d) have a severity classification of persistent disease (mild, moderate, severe) based on night time questions, and 4) have returned a signed parental consent form.