Peer-reviewed article
Health Supports Learning: Academic Outcomes Improved by the School-Based Asthma Therapy Program.
Arcoleo K, McGregor H, Marx P, Allen E, Irwin MK et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether a school-based asthma therapy program improved academic outcomes for 552 children in an urban school district. The program reduced unexcused absences by 17-53% and behavioral incidents by 32-34%, depending on school level, but did not significantly improve grades. The benefits appeared fairly consistent across sex and race/ethnicity groups, suggesting the program may help reduce educational disparities related to asthma.
Key points
- Unexcused hours decreased 17% in elementary and 53% in middle/high school after enrollment in SBAT
- Excused absences decreased 27% among middle/high school students
- Level 2 behavioral incidents decreased 32% in elementary and 34% in middle/high school
- Academic grades did not change significantly post-enrollment
- Benefits were consistent across sex and race/ethnicity, suggesting potential for equity promotion
Limitations
This is a retrospective study with no control group, so we cannot be certain the improvements were caused by SBAT rather than other changes. The study does not measure asthma clinical outcomes directly or explain why grades did not improve despite reduced absences and behavioral incidents.
Abstract
Background School nurses are vital to childhood asthma management. Although school-based asthma therapy (SBAT) improves clinical outcomes, its academic impact remains unclear. SBAT reduces barriers to guideline-based care through directly observed preventive medication therapy for children with persistent, poorly controlled asthma. Methods Retrospective academic record review (2013-2019) for 552 SBAT-enrolled children in a large urban district. Outcomes included missed instructional time, behavioral incidents, and grades compared across 4 quarters pre- and post-enrollment, stratified by school level, sex, race/ethnicity, and SES. Results Unexcused hours decreased significantly post-SBAT: 17% elementary; 53% middle/high school, with no sex or race/ethnicity differences. Excused hours decreased 27% among middle/high school students. Level 2 incidents decreased 32% in elementary and 34% in middle/high school students. Females had more excused hours and Level 1/2 behavioral incidents than males, while Black elementary students had fewer Level 1/2 incidents than Whites. Grades did not change significantly. Implications for school health, policy, practice, and equity SBAT has potential as an equity-promoting school healthcare practice to mitigate disparities in asthma morbidity, absenteeism, and school engagement among students in disadvantaged communities. Conclusions SBAT highlights potential educational benefits, supporting integration of guideline-based asthma management into routine school health services.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- School-based asthma therapy (SBAT) program providing directly observed preventive medication therapy through school nurses
- Population
- 552 children with persistent, poorly controlled asthma in a large urban school district (2013-2019)
Key finding
Unexcused hours decreased significantly: 17% elementary, 53% middle/high school post-enrollment
K et al. · Europe PMC · 1 Oct 2026