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. 2018 Aug 29;11:205–215. doi: 10.2147/JAA.S147524

Table 2.

Recruitment characteristics and study outcomes

Study Recruitment location Intervention duration Setting Age group Study outcomes
Halterman et al,15 2004 School 1 school year for 2 consecutive school years 54 schools and preschools 3–7 years old aN=180; school-based provision of ICSs significantly improved symptoms (experienced more SFDs during early winter months and were less likely to have 3 or more acute visits for asthma), quality of life, and absenteeism among urban children with mild persistent to severe persistent asthma. This effect was seen only among children not exposed to secondhand smoke.
Millard et al,18 2003 School 14 weeks 8 elementary schools 5–12 years old; mean age: 8.44 years aN=50; average peak flows were significantly higher for the home and school medication groups. Treatment groups showed improvement in asthma control, higher peak flow, decreased bronchodilator use, decreased nighttime symptoms, improved school attendance, and reduced health care encounters. Treatment groups rated their asthma as “better than the week before” more frequently than the control group.
Gerald et al,17 2009 School, physician office, health department 15 months 36 elementary schools Mean age: 11 years aN=240; children in the supervised therapy group showed greater improvement in asthma control. Odds of experiencing an EPAC during the baseline period were 1.57 times the odds of experiencing an EPAC during the follow-up period in the supervised therapy group. There were no differences in the likelihood of an EPAC between the baseline and follow-up period in the usual-care group.
Halterman et al,14 2011 School 1 school year for 3 consecutive school years 67 elementary and preschools 3–10 years old; mean age: 7.1 years aN=523; the school-based asthma therapy intervention improved symptoms among urban children with persistent asthma. Children in the treatment group had significantly more SFDs, fewer nighttime symptoms, less rescue medication use, fewer days with limited activity, and were less likely to have an exacerbation requiring prednisone treatment. Analyses showed positive intervention effects for children with smoke exposure as well.
Halterman et al,13 2011 School 6–8 weeks Rochester City School District 12–15 years old; mean age: 13.6 years aN=28; overall reduction of symptoms with more SFDs per 2 weeks for 2-month and final assessments. Teens also reported fewer days with symptoms, less activity limitation, and less rescue medication use. Exhaled nitric oxide levels decreased, suggesting less airway inflammation. At the final assessment, teens reported significantly higher motivation to take their preventive medication every day. Quality of life improved at both 2 month and final assessments.
Halterman et al,11 2012 School 1 school year 19 elementary and preschools 3–10 years old; mean age: 7.2 years aN=99; children in the treatment group experienced nearly 1 additional SFD per 2 weeks. Treatment children also experienced fewer symptom nights, days requiring rescue medications, and days absent from school due to asthma. Treatment children had a greater decrease in exhaled nitric oxide, suggesting reduction in airway inflammation.
Trivedi et al,10 2017 Clinic 1 year prior to enrollment and 1 year after enrollment Grades 1–12, public schools 6–18 years old; mean age: 10.5 years aN=84; reductions in health care utilization (decreased emergency department visits, decreased hospital admissions, decreased asthma rescue medication refills) were seen comparing preintervention to postintervention. There were also nonsignificant declines in school absences and oral steroid use for children enrolled postintervention.
Harrington et al,16 2018 Clinic 60 days 18 public and public charter schools (K-8) Mean age: 8.21 years aN=44; the intervention group received 91.7% of expected morning doses of ICS at school and reported significantly less functional limitation, adjustment to family life, and sleep loss.
Halterman et al,12 2018 School 1 school year for 4 consecutive school years 49 elementary schools 3–10 years old; mean age: 7.8 years aN=400; children in the intervention group had more SFDs per 2 weeks postintervention compared with children in the enhanced usual care group. In addition, children in the intervention group were less likely to have an emergency department visit or hospitalization for asthma.

Notes:

a

N = the number of subjects who completed the study.

Abbreviations: ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; SFD, symptom-free day; EPAC, episode of poor asthma control.