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A data-driven approach to stock inhaler programming implementation in Chicago Public Schools
Mariya Patwa1, Jennifer Cushman1, Rachel Lane1
1University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S. Wood Street, MC 719, Chicago, IL 60612 USA.
Discover Public Health
|June 23, 2026
Summary
High asthma rates in Chicago disproportionately affect Black and low-income students. Stock inhalers in schools can help reduce disparities in asthma care and improve student health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Asthma Management
- Health Equity
Background:
- Asthma prevalence is high in Chicago, with significant disparities in rescue inhaler access among Black and low-income student populations.
- Limited access to asthma medication in schools impacts student attendance and academic achievement, highlighting a critical need for accessible interventions.
- Stock inhalers, or undesignated inhalers for respiratory distress, offer a potential solution to address immediate needs within the school environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the pre-intervention asthma environment in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to ensure equitable implementation of a stock inhaler program.
- To examine the association between asthma status and school/student characteristics within CPS.
- To identify gaps in asthma prevalence and support plan accessibility across diverse student demographics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the asthma environment in pilot, ramp-up, and non-pilot CPS.
- Utilized chi-squared tests, Kruskal Wallis tests, and generalized estimating equation models.
- Included 517 district-run schools and over 266,000 students in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Higher median asthma prevalence was observed in high schools (6.39%) compared to elementary schools (4.49%).
- Non-Hispanic Black students had higher odds of asthma but lower odds of a 504 plan and higher odds of an IEP compared to Hispanic students.
- Low-income and unhoused students exhibited significantly higher odds of asthma.
Conclusions:
- While the stock inhaler scale-up was equitable, significant gaps in asthma prevalence and support plan allocation persist within CPS.
- Data-driven strategies, such as school-based stock inhalers, are crucial for mitigating disparities in asthma documentation and medication access.
- Addressing underlying social determinants of health is essential for comprehensive asthma management in urban school districts.
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