School-based self-management interventions for asthma among primary school children: A systematic review

• Main Authors: Ramdzan, Siti Nurkamilla, Suhaimi, Julia, Harris, Katherine M., Khoo, Ee Ming, Liew, Su May, Cunningham, Steve, Pinnock, Hilary
• Format: Article
• Published: Nature Research 2021
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/28824/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

A Cochrane review of school-based asthma interventions (combining all ages) found improved health outcomes. Self-management skills, however, vary according to age. We assessed effectiveness of primary school-based self-management interventions and identified components associated with successful programmes in children aged 6-12 years. We updated the Cochrane search (March 2020) and included the Global Health database. Two reviewers screened, assessed risk-of-bias and extracted data. We included 23 studies (10,682 participants); four at low risk-of-bias. Twelve studies reported at least one positive result for an outcome of interest. All 12 positive studies reported parental involvement in the intervention, compared to two-thirds of ineffective studies. In 10 of the 12 positive studies, parental involvement was substantial (e.g. attending sessions; phone/video communication) rather than being provided with written information. School-based self-management intervention can improve health outcomes and substantial parental involvement in school-based programmes seemed important for positive outcomes among primary school children.