Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries

Introduction Little is known about asthma control in the rising number of African children who suffer from this condition. The Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA) study is an observational study collecting evidence about paediatric asthma in urban areas of Ghana, Malawi, Niger...

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Main Authors: Gioia Mosler, Refiloe Masekela, Rebecca Nantanda, Emmanuel Addo-Yobo, Victoria Oyenuga, Olayinka Olufunke Adeyeye, Hilda Angela Mujuru, Ismail Ticklay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-03-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035885.full
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author Gioia Mosler
Refiloe Masekela
Rebecca Nantanda
Emmanuel Addo-Yobo
Victoria Oyenuga
Olayinka Olufunke Adeyeye
Hilda Angela Mujuru
Ismail Ticklay
author_facet Gioia Mosler
Refiloe Masekela
Rebecca Nantanda
Emmanuel Addo-Yobo
Victoria Oyenuga
Olayinka Olufunke Adeyeye
Hilda Angela Mujuru
Ismail Ticklay
author_sort Gioia Mosler
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Little is known about asthma control in the rising number of African children who suffer from this condition. The Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA) study is an observational study collecting evidence about paediatric asthma in urban areas of Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The primary objectives are: (1) to identify 3000 children aged between 12 years and 14 years with asthma symptoms; and (2) to assess their asthma control, current treatment, knowledge of and attitudes to asthma and barriers to achieving good control. Secondary objective is to develop interventions addressing identified barriers to good symptom control.Methods and analysis Each centre will undertake screening to identify 500 school children with asthma symptoms using questions from the Global Asthma Network’s questionnaire. Children identified to have asthma symptoms will fill in a digital survey, including: Asthma Control Test, questions on medication usage and adherence, medical care, the Brief-Illness Perception questionnaire and environmental factors. Exhaled nitric oxide testing and prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator spirometry will be performed. A subgroup of children will participate in focus group discussions. Results will be analysed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis. Informed by these results, we will assess the feasibility of potential interventions, including the adaption of a UK-based theatre performance about asthma attitudes and digital solutions to improve asthma management.Ethics and dissemination The ACACIA study has been reviewed by the Queen Mary University of London Ethics of Research Committee in the UK. All African centres have received local ethical approval for this study. Study results will be published in academic journals and at conferences. Study outputs will be communicated to the public via newsfeeds on the ACACIA website and Twitter, and through news media outlets and other local dissemination.Trial registration number 269211.
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spelling doaj-art-93943516c3fb4a25a31f5c0356d2e07b2024-12-06T01:55:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-03-0110310.1136/bmjopen-2019-035885Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countriesGioia Mosler0Refiloe Masekela1Rebecca Nantanda2Emmanuel Addo-Yobo3Victoria Oyenuga4Olayinka Olufunke Adeyeye5Hilda Angela Mujuru6Ismail Ticklay7Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South AfricaMakerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaSchool of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaCentre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKLagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeje, Lagos State, NigeriaChild and Adolescent Health Unit, Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweChild and Adolescent Health Unit, Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweIntroduction Little is known about asthma control in the rising number of African children who suffer from this condition. The Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA) study is an observational study collecting evidence about paediatric asthma in urban areas of Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The primary objectives are: (1) to identify 3000 children aged between 12 years and 14 years with asthma symptoms; and (2) to assess their asthma control, current treatment, knowledge of and attitudes to asthma and barriers to achieving good control. Secondary objective is to develop interventions addressing identified barriers to good symptom control.Methods and analysis Each centre will undertake screening to identify 500 school children with asthma symptoms using questions from the Global Asthma Network’s questionnaire. Children identified to have asthma symptoms will fill in a digital survey, including: Asthma Control Test, questions on medication usage and adherence, medical care, the Brief-Illness Perception questionnaire and environmental factors. Exhaled nitric oxide testing and prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator spirometry will be performed. A subgroup of children will participate in focus group discussions. Results will be analysed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis. Informed by these results, we will assess the feasibility of potential interventions, including the adaption of a UK-based theatre performance about asthma attitudes and digital solutions to improve asthma management.Ethics and dissemination The ACACIA study has been reviewed by the Queen Mary University of London Ethics of Research Committee in the UK. All African centres have received local ethical approval for this study. Study results will be published in academic journals and at conferences. Study outputs will be communicated to the public via newsfeeds on the ACACIA website and Twitter, and through news media outlets and other local dissemination.Trial registration number 269211.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035885.full
spellingShingle Gioia Mosler
Refiloe Masekela
Rebecca Nantanda
Emmanuel Addo-Yobo
Victoria Oyenuga
Olayinka Olufunke Adeyeye
Hilda Angela Mujuru
Ismail Ticklay
Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
BMJ Open
title Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
title_full Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
title_fullStr Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
title_full_unstemmed Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
title_short Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa (ACACIA): protocol of an observational study of children’s lung health in six sub-Saharan African countries
title_sort achieving control of asthma in children in africa acacia protocol of an observational study of children s lung health in six sub saharan african countries
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035885.full
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