Implementation of a Community Intervention to Improve Asthma Self-Management Practices in Peru

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children worldwide, with 80% of asthma related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Peru. While evidence-based guidelines exist for asthma treatment and management, adherence to guideline-based practices is low in high-income country (HIC) and LMIC settings alike. There a clear need for effective, locally-tailored solutions to address the asthma treatment gap in low-income communities in LMICs, such as Peru. This study aims to develop and test a locally-adapted intervention package to improve adoption of self-management practices and utilization of preventive health services for asthma among children in Lima. There is a paucity of research regarding the development and testing of interventions to improve asthma self-management in LMIC settings, which experience unique or exacerbated barriers to receiving evidence-based care. To the investigators' knowledge, no studies have systematically developed and evaluated an asthma management program in Peru. Therefore, the long-term goal of this study is to disseminate locally appropriate asthma management strategies to reduce asthma-related emergency department visits and improve service utilization in LMIC settings. For the current study, the investigators will carry out a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the intervention package in a group of 110 children with asthma who will be randomized to the intervention (55 children) or no intervention (55 children) arm. Participants in the intervention group will receive case management from a designated nurse manager, who will provide ongoing educational, social, and self-management support during monthly follow-up home visits and text-message based communication. Participants will be followed up every month for data collection over a six-month period. Throughout the follow-up period, the investigators will collect data on asthma control, healthcare utilization, medication adherence, quality of life of children with asthma and the children's caregivers, caregiver mental health, fidelity to the intervention, and acceptability and feasibility. Ultimately, this study will inform the scientific community about effective strategies and treatment programs for asthma in low-income settings.