Multisystemic Therapy to Reduce Health Disparities in Adolescents With Asthma
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00916240 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: June 9, 2009
Last Update Posted
: August 19, 2016
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Asthma | Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy Behavioral: Home-based, Non-Directive Family Support | Not Applicable |
Although rates of childhood asthma are increasing worldwide, more alarming is the disproportionate rise in rates of asthma among urban, disadvantaged, minority children. Inner city children, particularly adolescents, also appear to be most at risk for morbidity, mortality, and emergency department visits as a result of asthma. This may be caused by poor illness management.
Because of the multiple factors that affect whether or not a family is able to adequately manage a youth's asthma, educational interventions alone are typically insufficient to reduce morbidity and healthcare utilization, particularly in high-risk urban populations. As a result, more intensive, multi-component interventions are necessary to improve asthma management and outcomes for those youth at highest risk. MST is an innovative, flexible, home- and community-based family therapy that has been shown to improve health outcomes in urban children and adolescents with other chronic medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes and HIV infection. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of MST in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs in high-risk urban adolescents with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
Participants will include high-risk African-American adolescents with moderate to severe asthma. High-risk youth are defined as those with one or more hospitalizations for asthma treatment in the previous 12 months. At a baseline hospital visit, participants will complete questionnaires and an interview, both of which will focus on the participant's family and asthma history. Participants will also have the option of having the study personnel visit their home instead. Participants will then be randomly assigned to receive either MST plus standard multidisciplinary specialty care or standard multidisciplinary care alone.
Participants assigned to MST will attend psychological treatment sessions in their homes for about 6 months. Treatment sessions will be attended by both children and parents, occur at a time designated by the participants, and last about 1 hour. Participants will also complete questionnaires about their interactions with the therapist and their satisfaction with treatment.
Participants assigned to standard multidisciplinary specialty care alone will receive weekly home-based, supportive family counseling for about 6 months. The treatment will provide emotional support to the family regarding asthma, help the family spot problems in asthma care, and address specific support that may help them with asthma management. Counseling sessions will last about 45 minutes.
Participants in both groups will receive treatment for 6 months and follow-up for 12 months. Participants will be evaluated at baseline and after 7 and 12 months. Families will also be contacted during Months 3 and 9 for medical information. During the study, the medical charts of participants with asthma will be reviewed for medical history and clinic visits. Other medical providers who directly care for the participant's asthma (e.g., primary care provider) may also be contacted. At the Month 6 evaluation, height and weight measurements will be taken.
The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "Completed Date" entered in the Query View Report System (QVR).
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 170 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Multisystemic Therapy to Reduce Health Disparities in Adolescents With Asthma |
Study Start Date : | September 2008 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 2013 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1
Participants will receive Multisystemic Therapy (MST).
|
Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy
Treatment will consist of a home- and community-based intensive intervention. Psychological treatment sessions will be provided in participants' homes, at a time designated by the participant and will last about 1 hour.
Other Name: MST
|
Active Comparator: 2
Participants will receive home-based, non-directive family support.
|
Behavioral: Home-based, Non-Directive Family Support
Treatment will consist of Rogerian, client-centered, non-directive counseling. Participants will receive weekly home-based, supportive family counseling, with sessions lasting about 45 minutes.
|
- Pulmonary functioning (FEV-1, FVC) [ Time Frame: Measured at study entry and Months 7 (post treatment) and 12 ]
- Hospital and emergency department utilization (for asthma exacerbation) [ Time Frame: Measured at study entry and Months 7 (post treatment) and 12 ]
- Identification of mediators and moderators of MST treatment effects, e.g., individual adolescent factors (asthma knowledge/skill, mental health); family factors (family routines and relationships), etc. [ Time Frame: Measured at study entry and Months 7 (post treatment) and 12 ]

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 12 Years to 16 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Moderate to severe persistent asthma
- African American
- One or more hospitalizations for asthma in the last 12 months
Exclusion Criteria:
- No exclusions will be made due to co-morbid mental health problems (i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], conduct disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), with the exception of thought disorder (i.e. schizophrenia, autism), suicidality, or mental retardation

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00916240
United States, Michigan | |
Wayne State University School of Medicine | |
Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201 |
Principal Investigator: | Sylvie Naar-King, PhD | Wayne State University |
Responsible Party: | Sylvie Naar-King, PhD, Principal Investigator, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00916240 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
648 1R01HL087272-01A1 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | June 9, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | August 19, 2016 |
Last Verified: | July 2009 |
Keywords provided by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI):
Adolescents African American |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Asthma Bronchial Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Lung Diseases |
Respiratory Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity Immune System Diseases |