Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS)

The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) was designed to reduce children’s wheezing-related morbidity by reducing household allergens and increasing caregiver illness-management skills. CAPS participants were low-income families living in the Denver metropolitan area with children between 9 and 24 months old who had experienced at least three wheezing episodes. Nurses trained as home visitors addressed allergen and tobacco smoke reduction, as well as psychosocial factors of illness management, including parental knowledge, parent-child relationships, and caregiver mental health. Home visitors guided and supported caregivers’ efforts to achieve health-promotion goals through education, problem solving, and referrals for additional services. CAPS consisted of 18 home visits delivered over the course of a year.

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There are no definitive risk factors for the development of childhood asthma. Therefore, many asthma-related primary prevention programs focus on children whose parents have asthma. As children with asthmatic parents represent only a small proportion of the total population of children with asthma, the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) aimed to intervene with a broader range of children at risk of developing asthma, namely young children who had experienced wheezing episodes. In addition to the standard allergen-reduction efforts undertaken in other programs, the CAPS model also targeted the psychosocial factors that might affect successful illness management, such as parental knowledge of health promotion activities and caregiver mental health issues.

CAPS provided home-based services that addressed allergen and environmental tobacco smoke reduction, illness management, parent-child relationships, and caregiver mental health. The home visitors guided and supported caregivers’ efforts to achieve health promotion goals through education, problem solving, and referrals for additional services.

Caregivers received videos addressing asthma prevention and management, and handouts on topics relevant to their needs (such as child care or interactions with medical care providers).

CAPS served young children living in low-income households, who were between 9 and 24 months and had at least three wheezing episodes that had been brought to the attention of a physician.

There are no definitive risk factors for the development of childhood asthma. Therefore, many asthma-related primary prevention programs focus on children whose parents have asthma. As children with asthmatic parents represent only a small proportion of the total population of children with asthma, the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) aimed to intervene with a broader range of children at risk of developing asthma, namely young children who had experienced wheezing episodes. In addition to the standard allergen-reduction efforts undertaken in other programs, the CAPS model also targeted the psychosocial factors that might affect successful illness management, such as parental knowledge of health promotion activities and caregiver mental health issues.

CAPS was designed and implemented by staff from National Jewish Health (formerly the National Jewish Medical and Research Center).

No information was available about technical assistance.

CAPS served young children living in low-income households, who were between 9 and 24 months and had at least three wheezing episodes that had been brought to the attention of a physician.

The intervention was designed to reduce children’s wheezing-related morbidity by reducing household allergens and increasing caregiver illness-management capabilities.

CAPS provided home-based services that addressed allergen and environmental tobacco smoke reduction, illness management, parent-child relationships, and caregiver mental health. The home visitors guided and supported caregivers’ efforts to achieve health promotion goals through education, problem solving, and referrals for additional services.

Caregivers received videos addressing asthma prevention and management, and handouts on topics relevant to their needs (such as child care or interactions with medical care providers).

The intervention consisted of 18 home visits delivered over the course of a year. No information was available about the length of the visits.

No information was available about model adaptations or enhancements.

No information was available about the type or characteristics of organizations that could implement the model.

No information was available about whether the model specified any guidelines that implementing programs or home visitors were required to meet on an ongoing basis.

CAPS was implemented by nurse home visitors.

The home visitors who implemented CAPS had a bachelor of science degree in nursing and experience with community outreach.

There was no information available on supervision requirements.

Home visitors received training in asthma prevention and management. No information was available about whether home visitors were required to participate in ongoing professional development.

Mary D. Klinnert, Ph.D.
National Jewish Health
1400 Jackson St., G320
Denver, CO 80206