Reducing Asthma Disparities through School-Based Telemedicine for Rural Children

Study Description:

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a school-based asthma telemedicine intervention in rural pediatric populations in the Delta Region of Arkansas. The study will consist of an intervention arm and a usual care arm.

Breath Connection is a free school-based program that allows intervention participants to receive specialized asthma education from trained personnel at Arkansas Children's Hospital. The intervention will take place at each child's school of enrollment and does not require travel to Little Rock. Children in the usual care arm will continue to receive asthma care and education from their regular doctor.

Breath Connection utilizes telemedicine technology to:

Provide asthma education to students with asthma and their parents.
Provide school nurses with asthma education and individualized treatment guidelines for each participating student.
Monitor asthma symptoms and lung function.
Provide each participant's health care provider with individualized asthma treatment guidelines.

Study Requirements (usual care participants do not attend education sessions):

Students attend 5 asthma education sessions.
Parents /Caregivers attend 2 asthma education sessions.
Completion of a telephone surveys

Length of study: One school year

Compensation and transportation, if needed, will be provided.

Study Eligibility:

7-14 years of age
Asthma diagnosis and/or current symptoms of asthma
Parent s and child must speak English and have access to a telephone
Currently enrolled in the following public school districts: Helena-West Helena, Camden-Fairview, Dollarway and Brinkley.

This study is being conducted by:

Dr. Tamara Perry
Allergy and Immunology, Arkansas Children's Hospital
1 Children's Way
Little Rock, AR 72202
501-364-1060

For more information about this study, Contact Brandi Roberts or Rita Brown at 1-888-249-2830.