Children with Asthma

Sleath is the principal investigator on a $1.6 million grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute for a project examining how communication between pediatricians and children with asthma and their caregivers is related to asthma control and children outcomes, such as how well the children’s lungs are functioning and whether the children are adherent to the medication.

Also involved in the project are Stephanie Davis, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics; Dennis Williams, PharmD, an associate professor at the School; Karin Yeatts, a research assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology; and Guadalupe Ayala, an assistant professor at San Diego State University who used to be at the UNC School of Public Health.

The study is being conducted in five pediatric practices in North Carolina, mostly in rural areas. Researchers make audio recordings of office visits for children enrolled in the study to examine the interaction with pediatricians.

Sleath says the tapes are currently being transcribed. Researchers will then develop a method for coding the transcripts to assess the communication between pediatricians and patients.

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