Asthma Action Plan Receipt among Children with Asthma 2-17 Years of Age, United States, 2002-2013

Objective To examine national trends in the receipt of asthma action plans, an intervention recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines. Study design We used data from the sample child component of the National Health Interview Survey from 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2013 to examine the percentage of children 2-17 years of age with asthma (n=3714) that have ever received an asthma action plan. Bivariate and multivariate (with adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and asthma outcomes consistent with greater disease severity) logistic regressions were conducted to examine trends from 2002 to 2013 and to examine, with 2013 data only, the relationship between having received an asthma action plan and both sociodemographic characteristics and indicators of asthma severity. Results The percentage of children with asthma that had ever received an asthma action plan increased from 41.7% in 2002 to 50.7% in 2013 (P<.001 for trend). In 2013, a greater percentage of non-Hispanic black (58.4%) than non-Hispanic white (47.4%) children (P=.028), privately insured (56.2%) vs those with public insurance only (46.3%) (P=.016), and users of inhaled preventive asthma medication vs those that did not (P<.001) had ever received an asthma action plan. Adjusted results were similar. Conclusion The percentage of US children with asthma that had ever received an asthma action plan increased between 2002 and 2013, although one-half had never received an asthma action plan in 2013. Some sociodemographic and asthma severity measures are related to receipt of an asthma action plan.