Dissemination of Evidence-Based School Asthma Management Programs: Piloting Asthma 411 in an Urban Texas School District

BACKGROUND: The dissemination and implementation (D&I) of evidence-based initiative (EBIs) is critical to improved public health. The Asthma 411 EBI was piloted in Texas from 2013 to 2015. The pilot's evaluation assessed its effectiveness and identified approaches to support D&I of school-health EBIs. METHODS: The pilot study was conducted in two schools; service categories included: a consulting physician, enhanced school asthma services, and support for links to community health resources. Data was collected on Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls, aggregated nursing services, demographic characteristics, availability of medication provided through existing policies, and informal interviews. RESULTS: During the pilot, school-day asthma-related Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls were eliminated. Documented asthma self-management education, authorization for rescue medication, and efforts to communicate with parents and health providers increased. Between year-1 and year-2, the gap between unadjusted, weighted mean absences among students with and without asthma was reduced by 1.1 days. However, this difference was not seen in a fully adjusted negative, binomial regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the Asthma 411 pilot suggests many EBI benefits were retained and identifies factors that may facilitate D&I of school health EBIs. Future research will clarify impacts on absenteeism and determine if observed benefits are sustained.