The Development and Preliminary Impact of CAMP Air: A Web-based Asthma Intervention to Improve Asthma Among Adolescents

Objective Describe the development and preliminary impact of CAMP Air, a web-based intervention for adolescents with uncontrolled asthma. Materials and methods CAMP Air was developed using an iterative process with input from stakeholders and incorporating usability testing results (n = 14 adolescents). To test CAMP Air's initial impact, 61 adolescents from two New York City public high schools (n = 37) and from clinics, community-based organizations, and third-party recruitment services (i.e., community sample; n = 24) were enrolled in a randomized pilot trial. Participants were randomized to CAMP Air (n = 30) or information-and-referral control intervention (n = 31). A point-person worked with school participants to complete CAMP Air. Results CAMP Air participants were satisfied with the intervention and its value for supporting self-management, completing on average 6 of 7 modules. Relative to controls, CAMP Air participants demonstrated significantly improved asthma knowledge, asthma control, night wakening and school absences, and less risk for urgent care visits. Adolescents enrolled in schools completed more modules and had significantly fewer nights woken and school absences than community enrollees. Conclusion CAMP Air improves asthma outcomes among adolescents with uncontrolled asthma. Practice implications A web-based intervention CAMP Air is a promising intervention. When a point-person works with adolescents, CAMP Air's access and impact are improved.