Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109147

Lara J. Thomas, MPH¹, Julia A. Dodge, MS, RN², and Noreen M. Clark, PhD¹. (1) Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 S. Observatory Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734-647-0223, ljthomas@umich.edu, (2) School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Room M5116, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029

Purpose: This presentation will describe the adaptation for middle school students of the evaluated Open Airways for Elementary Schools Program of the American Lung Association. Significance: Childhood asthma is an increasing health problem in the USA, particularly in urban youth. Few evaluated programs are available to educate pre-teen students living with asthma. Methods: The adapted OASMS program was developed through focus groups, expert content review, and pilot studies. 1,300 mostly African-American sixth graders were then recruited over two years from 19 Detroit public schools and randomized (by school) to receive either the OASMS program or to a “wait list” control group. Process evaluation data were collected from students who attended the 6-week program, school administrators, and the OAS educators. Findings: Program adaptations for middle school compared to elementary students included, e.g., modifying program content, increasing interactive games and activities, addressing developmental challenges of pre-teens with asthma, and expanding the participants' self-management skills. Preliminary Year 1 process evaluation data (N = 411) revealed that 83% of the students learned new asthma information, 75% liked the student/educator communication, and 80% would recommend the OASMS program to peers. School administrators uniformly reported that the program was worthwhile. Conclusion: The adapted OASMS program appears beneficial to and well-received by both inner city sixth graders with asthma and school administrators. Long-term outcome evaluation data are being collected.

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