Interventions to Improve Asthma Management/Prevention at School
Interventions to Improve Asthma Management/Prevention at School
To design, develop, implement, and test the effectiveness of a three component health
 services and health education intervention for primarily Hispanic inner-city elementary
 school students at high risk for asthma morbidity and mortality.
BACKGROUND:

 The study was part of an initiative "Interventions to Improve Asthma Management and
 Prevention at School". The Broad Agency Announcement was released in June, 1994.

 DESIGN NARRATIVE:

 The study used a randomized intervention trial to test the effectiveness of a comprehensive
 school-based asthma program to increase linkages with primary care physicians, to increase
 self-management activities, and to reduce morbidity associated with asthma. The study used a
 nested design in which the schools were the unit of design, allocation, and analysis. Effects
 were measured from aggregate data about students and data from school measures to control
 asthma. There were three components to the intervention. First, case finding for asthma
 through screening in both intervention and control schools. Second, a linkage management
 system that connected the child with a source of primary care and enhanced communication
 among the school nurse, the primary care physician, and parents. Third, the development and
 implementation of interactive multimedia and decision support system techniques to tailor
 individualized learning opportunities for children with asthma. The interventions occurred in
 the school setting and included tailored feedback for children, teachers, nurses, primary
 care providers, and the family. Assessments were made of the potential for diffusion of the
 components to target audiences.