title: Factors associated with completion of a behavioral intervention for caregivers of urban children with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rates of preventive follow-up asthma care after an acute emergency department (ED) visit are low among inner-city children. We implemented a novel behavioral asthma intervention, Pediatric Asthma Alert (PAAL) intervention, to improve outpatient follow-up and preventive care for urban children with a recent ED visit for asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to describe the PAAL intervention and examine factors associated with intervention completers and noncompleters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with persistent asthma and recurrent ED visits (N = 300) were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of the PAAL intervention that included two home visits and a facilitated follow-up visit with the child's primary care provider (PCP). Children were categorized as intervention completers, that is, completed home and PCP visits compared with noncompleters, who completed at least one home visit but did not complete the PCP visit. Using chi-square test of independence, analysis of variance, and multiple logistic regression, the intervention completion status was examined by several sociodemographic, health, and caregiver psychological variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children were African-American (95%), Medicaid insured (91%), and young (aged 3-5 years, 56%). Overall, 71% of children randomized to the intervention successfully completed all home and PCP visits (completers). Factors significantly associated with completing the intervention included younger age (age 3-5 years: completers, 65.4%; noncompleters, 34.1%; p < .001) and having an asthma action plan in the home at baseline (completers: 40%; noncompleters: 21%; p = .02). In a logistic regression model, younger child age, having an asthma action plan, and lower caregiver daily asthma stress were significantly associated with successful completion of the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of caregivers of high-risk children with asthma were successfully engaged in this home and PCP-based intervention. Caregivers of older children with asthma and those with high stress may need additional support for program completion. Further, the lack of an asthma action plan may be a marker of preexisting barriers to preventive care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. abutz@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Arlene M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Butz
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Halterman
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellin
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kub
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: Cassia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis-Land
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donithan
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsoukleris
authors.forename: Mary Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bollinger
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution