A Pilot Stress Management Intervention Study for High Risk Children With Asthma

A Pilot Stress Management Intervention for High Risk Children With Asthma

The purpose of the proposed study is to conduct a randomized controlled pilot trial of a school-based stress management and coping skills training program among a sample of economically disadvantaged urban 8- to 12-year-old school children with physician-confirmed asthma. The investigators aim (1) to establish feasibility of this approach by recruiting from different schools and (2) to learn whether individuals assigned to receive the intervention show improvements in psychological function, decreases in lung inflammation, and related improvements in asthma health when compared with disease severity-matched peers who receive education-only or standard care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• In grades 3 through 8 and attending one of the 11 participating public schools
• Age 8 through 14 years
• Qualify for the free or reduced cost school lunch program in Pennsylvania (families that receive food stamps or have an annual income of < $40,900).
• Meets National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI, 2007) criteria for any asthma diagnosis EXCEPT mild, intermittent asthma, as confirmed by the study physician using NHLBI Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.pdf, page 40).
• Has a parent or legal guardian who is willing to participate in the study
• Fluent in English (i.e., have commonly used English in everyday speaking and reading for at least 10 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of a chronic illness in addition to asthma (determined by parent or guardian report)
• Prescribed medications other than for asthma
• Mental retardation or significant developmental delay
• Inability to speak or understand English
• A diagnosis of mild, intermittent asthma as determined using NHLBI (2007) criteria (see above)
• Age less then 8 years or greater than 14 years
• Not in grades 3 through 8
• Not qualifying for free or reduced cost school lunches in Pennsylvania
• No parent or legal guardian who is willing to participate