description): Low-income, minority children have disproportionately high rates of emergency department (ED) care for asthma compared to other children. Lack of access to asthma care, under-treatment of asthma and poor adherence to asthma control measures have been implicated as contributing factors in this excess morbidity. The investigators hypothesize that improving patients' practical knowledge of asthma will enhance asthma management self-efficacy. The investigators further hypothesize that patients' with greater self-efficacy will be more effective in managing asthma and thus in reducing asthma morbidity among this group of high-risk children. To test these hypotheses, the investigators will develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a theory driven Problem-Solving Intervention in reducing asthma morbidity (i.e., ED and clinic use for acute asthma, asthma symptoms, school days missed, restricted activity). They will use a social learning model to teach Asthma Problem Solving Skills to a group of high ED users. The Arkansas Children's Asthma Center (ACAC) will serve as the recruitment site. Families of asthmatic children ages 5-12 years (N=60) with two or more ED visits or at least one hospitalization for asthma in the past 12 months will be randomized to a Problem Solving Intervention group or a usual care control group. Baseline measures will be collected after obtaining consent. The intervention will consist of four, one-hour sessions. Follow-up measures will be collected by telephone from families at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome measures will be school absences, symptoms profile, quality of life, ED and clinic utilization for acute asthma, and scores on the Assessment of Asthma Practical Knowledge Scale and the Asthma Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03HD039271-01
Application #
6164965
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1-MCHG-B (BV))
Program Officer
Haverkos, Lynne
Project Start
2000-09-14
Project End
2002-05-31
Budget Start
2000-09-14
Budget End
2001-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$65,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
002593692
City
Little Rock
State
AR
Country
United States
Zip Code
72202