A Community Partnership to Address Chronic Disease in Rural Communities

Several strategies have been studied to increase children and parent/caregiver ability to successfully manage chronic diseases. Further research is needed to determine if peer mentorship strategies would be successful, providing asthma education to all of the child's networks and consequently increasing parental involvement particularly in rural communities. The “Building Children's Capacity to Address their Chronic Disease” – the BUILD Pilot Program – focuses on building self-efficacy, self-management, asthma knowledge, metered dose inhaler technique capability, and quality of life in participant middle school children and their parents. The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a novel capacity building model incorporating asthma camps, peer mentorship and e-Health training in improving asthma outcomes measures in children. Methods: The program is based on the Chronic Care Model. Children sessions include (a) an asthma camp at a local rural the school staffed by nurses, public health professionals, and medical personnel; and (b) Afterschool club peer-mentoring and internet based sessions. Parent sessions include (a) parent sessions at asthma camp; and (b) monthly e-Health sessions online over 12 months. Child and caregiver evaluations include child's knowledge, self-efficacy, quality of life, asthma control, self-management, and MDI appropriate use. Overall program process and outcome evaluation will be conducted. This study is currently underway. Results will be available in August. We conclude that children and caregivers in the intervention group will reflect greater self-efficacy, self-management, and quality of life, and increased long-term asthma knowledge compared to either the children or their caregivers in the control group