A community-based asthma program: Study design and methods of RVA Breathes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Pediatric asthma morbidity and healthcare disparities persist across racial, ethnic, environmental, and income lines.
• Effective interventions are crucial to address these inequities in asthma care.
• Existing care models often lack coordination across key sectors impacting child health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the RVA Breathes intervention on pediatric asthma-related healthcare utilization.
• To evaluate secondary outcomes including asthma control, symptom frequency, and quality of life.
• To refine and test a community-based, multi-sectoral asthma care coordination model.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 300 elementary school children (ages 5-11) with asthma exacerbations.
• Participants randomized into three groups: comprehensive intervention, education/home remediation, or a comparator.
• Data collection over 18 months including baseline, intervention sessions, and follow-up visits; analysis via General Linear Mixed Model (GLMM).

Main Results:

• The study is designed to provide evidence on the effectiveness of coordinated care.
• Expected findings will quantify reductions in asthma-related healthcare utilization.
• Anticipated improvements in asthma control, symptom reduction, and enhanced quality of life are expected.

Conclusions:

• The RVA Breathes intervention demonstrates a promising model for coordinating pediatric asthma care.
• Findings are expected to support the integration of family, home, community, and medical services.
• This approach can serve as a scalable model for community-based pediatric asthma management.