Comparison of Asthma Programs for Schools (CAPS)

• Reasoning about Asthma Management [ Time Frame: 24 months or 2 years post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Evidence of statistically significant increase in older school-age student reasoning about managing symptom exacerbation during an acute asthma episode.
  
  

• Participation in Life Activities [ Time Frame: 24 months or 2 years post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Evidence of statistically significant improvement in quality of life as evidenced by increase in participation in life activities score.
  
  

Over 7 million US children younger than age 18 years are currently diagnosed with asthma, and approximately 4 million children experience exacerbation of asthma symptoms annually. The NIH National Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma specify that part of a successful management program includes educating students with asthma and their caregivers about the condition. The guidelines recommend expanding education of students and families to schools and community settings. An academic and counseling program was developed for older school-age students with asthma and their family caregivers titled Staying Healthy-Asthma Responsible & Prepared™ (SHARP). A two-group prospective randomized single-blinded design was used. The sample consisted of two cohorts of students diagnosed aged 9-12 years with asthma and their caregivers from varying socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Cohort dyads were drawn from 23 elementary schools that were located in a diverse, moderately sized, medically underserved, inner-city community. The schools were matched based on projected enrollment numbers, standardized reading and math scores, free/reduced lunch eligibility, and racial/ethnic proportions prior to randomization. Recently retired certified elementary schoolteachers, identified by the district, were trained to serve as interveners to deliver both programs in the schools during instructional time.