Role of asthma camp in improving the overall health of children with asthma

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the benefit of asthma camp for patients who attended Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center’s Camp Wheeze Away in July 2016. Data were collected on children aged 8 to 15 years who were diagnosed with asthma and attended asthma camp. Information on body mass index, hospital admissions, and emergency department visits was collected 1 year before and 1 year after camp. Asthma control tests, exhaled nitric oxide tests, and pulmonary function tests were administered at the beginning and end of camp. A total of 34 children with asthma (mean age 11 [±2] years) were included in this study. Postcamp asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased. Mean asthma control scores improved from 20.4 (±3.2) before camp to 23.4 (±2.8) after camp (P < 0.0001). Forced expiratory volume during the first breath and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the pulmonary volume improved during the weeklong camp (P = 0.04 and 0.0007, respectively). Forced expiratory volume during the first breath further improved 6 to 12 months after camp compared to values before camp (P = 0.047). Exhaled nitric oxide levels improved from the first to last day of camp by decreasing an average of 39% (P = 0.0009). This study showed the positive effect that a short-term educational intervention in a camp setting had on asthma control scores and asthma knowledge.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• child
• education
• self-management