Recruitment is ongoing over 5 years and started in spring 2008. Every spring prior to the academic year when follow-up is scheduled to occur, screening survey questionnaires are distributed to all the students in 7–10 elementary schools to determine eligible asthmatics that will be attending the same school in the subsequent fall. During the spring, eligibility assessments are obtained. The summer prior to the academic year, at a clinic visit, eligible subjects obtain a baseline assessment of their asthma symptoms, home and child-care characteristics, pulmonary function, and specific allergen sensitivities. These children are followed every 3 months throughout the school year with a final follow-up 12 months after baseline. Approximately 100 asthmatics from 7–10 schools are being enrolled per year, so that by the end of the 5 years, 500 students with asthma from 35 schools will be enrolled and complete follow-up (see Table 1 for schema).
This study is approved by the Children’s Hospital, Boston and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Investigational Review Board (IRB). It is also approved by the Research, Assessment, and Evaluation Division and Facilities Management Department of the Boston Public Schools.
This study is approved by the Children’s Hospital, Boston and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Investigational Review Board (IRB). It is also approved by the Research, Assessment, and Evaluation Division and Facilities Management Department of the Boston Public Schools.
