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Radu S, Zarinafsar S, Ryan GW, Chainani S, Becker S, Arenas J, Spano MA, Shillan HN, Hoque S, Sadasivam R, Pbert L, Luther J, Trivedi MK. Participant Perspectives on the Implementation of a School-Linked Text-Message Intervention to Improve Pediatric Asthma Medication Adherence. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol 2024; 37:13-21. [PMID: 38324020 PMCID: PMC10951618 DOI: 10.1089/ped.2023.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Background: Poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is a significant challenge in pediatric asthma, contributing to health inequities. Text-message reminders for ICS therapy are an evidence-based approach that improves pediatric asthma medication adherence, yet has not been widely adopted into practice, partly due to lack of (1) participant input on design and implementation and (2) use of sustainable community linkages. Remote Asthma Link™ (RAL) seeks to fill this gap as a school-linked text-message intervention wherein parents of children with poorly controlled asthma received daily, 2-way text-message reminders for preventive inhaler use. Responses were shared with school nurses who conducted remote check-ins with families. Enrolled children, largely from underserved backgrounds, experienced improvements in medication adherence and asthma health outcomes. While initial results were promising, we have yet to elicit participant input to refine the protocol for more widespread implementation. Objective: Examine participant perspectives on barriers and facilitators of RAL implementation. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted May-June 2022 with intervention participants: 10 parents, 7 school nurses, and 4 pediatric providers (n = 21) until thematic saturation was reached. Interview transcripts were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Several facilitators for RAL implementation were identified, including ease of use and accessibility, personal connection to the school nurse, and receipt of a visual notification for habit formation. Barriers included challenges with school nurses reaching parents, poor understanding of program expectations, and lack of reimbursement structure. Participant-proposed solutions to barriers included utilizing alternate communication methods (eg, social media), educational sessions, and meeting with payors to consider reimbursement models. Conclusion: RAL is a school-linked text-message intervention demonstrating promise in improving outcomes and equity in asthma care. Key implementation facilitators, barriers, and proposed solutions will inform protocol adaptations to promote successful implementation of this and other text-message interventions into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Radu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sheerin Zarinafsar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Grace W. Ryan
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sanjay Chainani
- Department of Internal Medicine; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Becker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Juliana Arenas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle A. Spano
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Holly N. Shillan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shushmita Hoque
- Department of Internal Medicine; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rajani Sadasivam
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lori Pbert
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Janki Luther
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michelle K. Trivedi
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Trivedi M, Patel J, Hoque S, Mizrahi R, Biebel K, Phipatanakul W, Lemon SC, Byatt N, Gerald LB, Rosal M, Pbert L. Alignment of stakeholder agendas to facilitate the adoption of school-supervised asthma therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol 2020; 55:580-590. [PMID: 31856415 PMCID: PMC7018546 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND School-supervised inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy improves pediatric asthma medication adherence, outcomes, and morbidity. However, school-supervised ICS therapy has not been widely adopted into practice. We developed Asthma Link™ as a sustainable, low-cost model of school-supervised asthma therapy, designed for real-world adoption. Initial outcomes of Asthma Link™ demonstrated a significant improvement in health outcomes. OBJECTIVE In this study, we examined the perspectives of Asthma Link™ participants to identify systems-level barriers and facilitators to refine the Asthma Link™ protocol and facilitate real-world uptake of school-supervised asthma therapy. METHODS Using qualitative research methods, we interviewed 29 participants in Asthma Link™ from 2016 to 2018. Semi-structured interviews were conducted over the phone. Interviews were transcribed and the transcripts were coded to identify major themes within and across stakeholder groups. RESULTS Stakeholders agreed on many facilitators for successful Asthma Link™ execution including the brief and easy to follow procedures and the perceived beneficial health impacts for children involved. Some of the barriers identified were deviations from the protocol and insurance companies denying coverage for two inhalers. However, the participants did propose solutions to address these barriers. CONCLUSION Asthma Link™ is a low-cost, sustainable model of school-supervised asthma therapy that leverages the established infrastructure and collaboration of medical providers, school staff, and families. In this study, we elicited the perspectives from these stakeholder groups and identified an agreement in several facilitators, barriers, and proposed solutions that will ultimately inform refinement of the program protocol and support real-world adoption of Asthma Link™ and other similar models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Trivedi
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Janki Patel
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Shushmita Hoque
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Raphael Mizrahi
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Kathleen Biebel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Department of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stephenie C Lemon
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Nancy Byatt
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Lynn B Gerald
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Milagros Rosal
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Lori Pbert
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
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