WASHINGTON, DC – New research presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) reported success in using MP3s and sports skills as tools for asthma education and treatment adherence.

 

In the first study, Giselle S. Mosnaim, MD, and colleagues used a group of 12 to 18 year old low income African American teens as their sample, a group that typically has high asthma morbidity. The study authors aimed to increase adherence to daily inhaled steroids using coping peer asthma messages delivered between MP3 music tracks, as coping peers provide support and adolescents spend a significant amount of time listening to music.

 

During the eight-week active treatment period, the participants, all with moderate persistent asthma, received 10 to 15 weekly MP3 music tracks, coping peer asthma messages that were recorded and developed by the participants for each other, and twice daily phone calls reminding them to take their inhaled steroids.

 

Researchers measured adherence to daily inhaled steroids with an electronic dose counter and asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT).

 

Prior to treatment, adherence was less than 40% on average but increased to greater than 70% throughout treatment. In addition, the average pooled baseline ACT score was 19. During treatment, mean pooled ACT scores exceeded 20, which is the clinically significant cut-point for asthma control.

 

The study authors concluded that using MP3 technology to deliver coping peer asthma messages between music tracks may indeed successfully increase adherence to daily inhaled steroids in this population with high asthma morbidity.

 

In the second study, asthmatic children who had lessons in basketball skills paired with education about their disease were found to have improved outcomes, citing the need for further research on using sports-oriented asthma education.

 

Researchers at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh evaluated 21 children ages 6 to 12 who were enrolled in a day-long camp that included comprehensive asthma education along with workshops on basketball skills.

 

A healthcare utilization survey assessing ER visits, physician contacts and oral steroid use was completed at baseline and then two and four months later. Ninety-two percent of study subjects completed these surveys.

 

The surveys showed there was a significant decrease in physician contacts and a trend toward decreased ER visits following the camp. No impact on oral steroid use was found.

 

Based upon the success of utilizing the sports-oriented asthma education model in this pilot study, the researchers report that future studies are underway to expand the sample size and evaluate other outcomes.

 

If proven successful, this asthma education model may be valuable in improving long-term outcomes in asthmatic children.

 

The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.