Although older children know more about asthma and assume more responsibility for disease management, their adherence is lower than that of younger children. No association was found between adherence and child knowledge, reasoning about asthma, or responsibility for asthma management.

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Asthma disparities exist, with Latino children of Caribbean descent at risk for poor disease control. Controller medications reduce symptoms; however, medication adherence remains suboptimal. Identifying what factors predict poor medication adherence in at-risk groups could identify important treatment targets. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:This study is the first to assess objective rates of medication use among children with asthma in Puerto Rico. Findings suggest that interventions incorporating family resources and addressing parental beliefs about medications may be of benefit across cultural groups. abstract OBJECTIVE: Latino children of Caribbean descent remain at high risk for poorly controlled asthma. Controller medications improve asthma control; however, medication adherence remains suboptimal, particularly among minorities. This study assessed socioeconomic, familybased, and parent factors in medication adherence among children with asthma from Rhode Island (RI; Latino and non-Latino white [NLW]) and Puerto Rico. METHODS:Data collection occurred as part of a multicenter study of asthma disparities. Our sample included children (ages 7-16) prescribed objectively monitored controller medications (n = 277; 80 island Puerto Rico, 114 RI Latino, 83 RI NLW). Parents completed questionnaires regarding family background and beliefs about medications. Families participated in an interview regarding asthma management. Multilevel analyses (maximum likelihood estimates) accounting for children being nested within site and ethnic group assessed the contribution of social context, family, and parent variables to medication adherence. RESULTS:Medication adherence differed by ethnic group (F 2, 271 = 7.46, P , .01), with NLW families demonstrating the highest levels of adherence. Multilevel models indicated that parental beliefs about medication necessity and family organization regarding medication use were significant predictors of adherence, even for families below the poverty threshold. With family factors in the model, a substantial improvement in model fit occurred (Akaike Information Criterion change of 103.45).CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to controller medications was lower among Latino children in our sample. Targeted interventions that capitalize on existing family resources, emphasize structure, and address parental beliefs about the importance of medications may be of benefit to families from different cultural backgrounds.

This study demonstrates the utility of multiple-dimensional risk models for predicting variations in asthma morbidity in urban children. Research efforts with urban families who have children with asthma need to consider the context of urban poverty as it relates to children's cultural backgrounds and specific asthma outcomes.

The objectives of the present study were to: 1) assess spirometric indices and respiratory impedance with forced oscillation (FO), using impulse oscillometry (IOS) in clinically stable asthmatic children over 3 consecutive days; 2) assess FO reactance (X), using an integrated index and resistance (R) separately during inspiration and expiration; and 3) assess effects on FO of hand support of cheeks vs. no hand support. Our hypotheses were: 1) because of increased sensitivity, IOS manifests day-to-day variability not demonstrable by spirometry; 2) IOS R during expiration exceeds that during inspiration; and 3) hand support of cheeks affects IOS R and X only minimally. We obtained triplicate twice-daily measures of IOS R and X in asthmatic adolescents at summer camp, in a convenience sample of children willing, with parental permission, to undergo repeated testing on consecutive days. Subjects received all medications between 6:30-7:30 AM, and were bronchodilated at time of testing. Subjects underwent IOS tests without hand support of cheeks, followed by tests with both hands supporting cheeks. ANOVA and regression analyses were used to discern technique differences.Significant differences in IOS inspiratory R5, R5 - R15 (frequency dependence of R), and low frequency reactance area (AX) occurred across 3 days, but spirometric indices were unchanged. Inspiratory R at 5 Hz (R5) was significantly smaller than expiratory R5 (P < 0.0001). ANOVA revealed no significant differences between hand and facial muscle cheek support for IOS R and X below 15 Hz, but significant differences occurred above 15 Hz. In conclusion, inspiratory R5, R5 - R15, and AX are sensitive measures for detecting changes in bronchomotor tone in adolescent asthmatic subjects, while expiratory R5 may be influenced by additional factors. Manual support of cheeks does not appear to affect IOS indices of peripheral airway obstruction in adolescent asthmatics. IOS is a practical method for quantifying respiratory mechanics, and its potential role in disease management warrants further study.