A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Self-Regulation Intervention for Older Adults with Asthma

Objectives To evaluate a self-regulation intervention for asthma for older adults. Design A blinded randomized controlled trial. Setting Single-center tertiary care academic center. Participants Seventy older adults aged 65 and older with persistent asthma randomized to an intervention or control group. Intervention Participants participate in a six-session program conducted over the telephone and in group sessions. Participants selected an asthma-specific goal, identified problems, and addressed potential barriers. Measurements Outcomes were assessed at 1, 6, and 12months and included the mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), healthcare utilization, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV1%). Results The mAQLQ score was significantly higher in the intervention group at 1, 6, and 12months, even after controlling for confounding factors. The between-group difference decreased over time, although at 12months, it remained greater than 0.5 points. The ACQ was better in the intervention group than in the control group at 1, 6, and 12months. At 12months, those in the intervention group were 4.2 times as likely as those in the control group to have an ACQ score in the controlled range. Healthcare utilization was lower in the intervention group, although no difference was observed in FENO or predicted FEV1%. Conclusion A self-regulation intervention can improve asthma control, quality of life, and healthcare utilization in older adults.