Asthma Link: A Partnership Between Pediatric Practices, Schools, and Families to Improve Medication Adherence and Health Outcomes in Children With Poorly Controlled Asthma

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of Asthma Link, a school-supervised asthma therapy program, compared with an educational asthma workbook in improving asthma symptoms for children aged 5 to 14 with poorly controlled asthma. Asthma is a common chronic condition in childhood, with medication non-adherence being a major cause of complications, especially among low-income and racial/ethnic minority children. The study involves 14 sites and focuses on improving asthma control, medication adherence, quality of life, and reducing asthma-related complications and school absences. The trial compares two groups: one receiving Asthma Link, which includes daily school-supervised asthma therapy alongside an educational asthma workbook, and another receiving enhanced usual care consisting of an educational asthma workbook alone. Pediatric practices involved receive training to identify and refer children with poorly controlled asthma to participate in the respective programs. The intervention leverages partnerships between pediatric practices, schools, and families to support medication adherence in a sustainable, real-world setting. Participants are monitored over 12 months, with assessments at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months to evaluate asthma symptom control using the Asthma Control Test and other measures. Researchers will also track medication adherence, healthcare use, school absences, parental workdays lost, and quality of life. Children and their parents provide assent and consent, and the study includes questionnaires and checklists to monitor progress and adherence. The total participation duration spans one year, with ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of the interventions.

Asthma Link Effectiveness Trial