Building Bridges for Asthma Care: Reducing School Absence for Inner City Children with Health Disparities

Publication date: Available online 25 July 2018

Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Author(s): Stanley J. Szefler, Michelle M. Cloutier, Miguel Villarreal, Jessica P. Hollenbach, Melanie Gleason, Christy Haas-Howard, Carol Vinick, Agustin Calatroni, Lisa Cicutto, Marty White, Shann Williams, Meghan McGinn, Christine Langton, Donna Shocks, Herman Mitchell, David A. Stempel

Abstract

Background

Children with asthma are at increased risk for experiencing health and educational disparities because of increased school absence. School nurses are well-positioned to support asthma management and improve school attendance.

Objective

To implement and assess the effect of the Building Bridges for Asthma Care Program on improving school attendance and measures of asthma control.

Methods

Children with asthma, ages 5 through 14 years, in the Denver Public School System (n=240) and the Hartford Public School System (n=223) were enrolled in the Building Bridges Program during the 2013-2014 and the 2014-2015 school years and followed until the end of the second school year. The primary outcome was school absence with secondary outcomes including asthma control measured by the Childhood Asthma Control Test (cACT) or the Asthma Control Test (ACT), and rescue inhaler use.

Results

Participants experienced a 22% absolute decrease in school absenteeism; the number of children with an ACT/cACT score below the control threshold of 20 decreased from 42.7% to 28.8% and bronchodilator use >2 times per week declined from 35.8% to 22.9% (all changes were significant, p<.01).

Conclusions

Children enrolled in the Building Bridges for Asthma Care Program experienced reduced school absence and improved asthma control.

https://ift.tt/2Oe5J3w