Educational Video for Improving Follow-up After an Emergency Department Visit for Asthma
Educational Video for Improving Follow-up After an Emergency Department Visit for Asthma
The study will assess the efficacy of a three-part Emergency Department (ED)-based "Asthma
 Belief and Control" intervention on healthcare utilization, asthma controller medication use,
 symptoms, and quality of life during the 6 months following an Emergency Department visit.
Inner-city children are particularly at risk for poor asthma treatment outcomes and
 frequently obtain their asthma care in the ED. Prior studies have had limited success in
 improving primary care follow-up, quality of care, and long-term outcomes after a pediatric
 ED visit for asthma. Prior ED-based interventions have been designed to address barriers to
 follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) such as an inability to obtain a follow-up
 appointment or lack of transportation. Focus groups and surveys of inner-city families have
 found that beliefs about the benefits of follow-up care and the role of preventive asthma
 medications have a strong impact on adherence to therapy.

 This study will develop a brief educational video about the benefits of follow-up asthma care
 using a multi-disciplinary panel of experts at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and
 focus groups of parents of children with asthma. This educational video will then be combined
 into an intervention along with symptom screening and a reminder phone call that has been
 demonstrated to improve follow-up rates in a previous study. The combined intervention will
 be tested using a randomized trial design to determine its efficacy on healthcare
 utilization, asthma controller medication use, symptoms, and quality of life during the 6
 months following an ED visit. The research is conducted as part of a research career
 development award.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 1-18 years

 -  History of Asthma:

 -  At least 2 prior episodes of bronchodilator treatment

 -  No underlying cardiac disease

 -  No other chronic lung disease

 -  Residence within Philadelphia city limits

 -  Discharged from ED after treatment for asthma

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Prior study enrollment

 -  Parent unable to speak English

 -  No telephone to be reachable for follow-up calls