Improving Pediatric Asthma Care Through Inhaled Steroids in Schools
Improving Pediatric Asthma Care Through Inhaled Steroids in Schools
Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric disease in the United States, and is the most
 common cause of school absenteeism due to a chronic disease. Socioeconomically disadvantaged
 minority children receive disproportionately poor asthma care and incur a disproportionate
 share of asthma-related morbidity. The District of Columbia is particularly severely
 affected, with a lifetime asthma prevalence rate among children 0-17 years of age in 2010 of
 22%, more than double the national average.

 One of the major challenges in treating asthma is poor adherence to daily controller
 medications, particularly inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) which are the cornerstone of the NIH
 guidelines for asthma management. In an attempt to overcome poor compliance, investigators in
 Rochester, New York have partnered with primary care providers in their community to arrange
 for ICS administration at school by school nurses, and this approach yielded significant
 improvements in several asthma outcomes.

 The investigators propose to collaborate in a pilot research project with the overall goal of
 improving asthma outcomes through reducing barriers to medication adherence. Specifically,
 the investigators aim to improve adherence to controller medications (inhaled corticosteroids
 - ICS) among DC children with asthma through the following activities:

 1. A pilot prospective randomized clinical trial of home vs. school administration of ICS
 among DC children in grades kindergarten-8 with persistent asthma.

 2. Qualitative interviews with nurses from DC public and public charter school to identify
 key barriers to administration of daily controller medications in the school setting
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Current enrollment in one of the grades K-8 at a DC public school (DCPS) or DC public
 charter school (DCPCS)

 -  Active public insurance

 -  Persistent asthma

 -  An Asthma Action Plan including daily ICS

 -  Child's primary asthma caregiver present, meaning the person who usually takes care of
 his/her asthma at home and can answer questions about his/her medical history.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Chronic disease of the cardio-pulmonary system other than asthma

 -  Non-English speaking parent/guardian

 -  Currently enrolled in in another asthma study