Learning Objective #1: Describe the effect of massage therapy on breathing, quality of life and anxiety on children with asthma who receive massage from a primary caretaker

Learning Objective #2: Describe the effect of administering massage on self-efficacy and anxiety on a caretaker who administers massage to their child with asthma

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Despite the availability of effective treatments and family education, New York City children with asthma have higher rates of morbidity than New York State and most of the nation. Ethnically diverse, urban caretakers of these children increasingly turn to complementary alternative medicine strategies that are grounded in family and community cultural beliefs and provide opportunity for more active participation in a child's care. Massage therapy (MT) is one such strategy. The effects of receiving MT on pulmonary and physical function, anxiety, quality of life (QOL) and health care utilization in children with asthma, and the effects of providing MT on anxiety, self-efficacy and learned helplessness in the primary caretaker will be assessed in a randomized, two group experimental, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. A respiratory therapist and educator will lead the study in collaboration with a nurse researcher of touch therapies for children. After being recruited in an ambulatory clinic, 4 data collection home visits and 1 home education visit with the study massage therapist will be scheduled with the caretaker. Child-Spirometry and peak flow will assess pulmonary function; the Asthma Symptom Diary will measure physical function and health care utilization; About My Asthma will measure QOL. Caretaker-The Empowerment Questionnaire will assess self-efficacy and learned helplessness. The State-Trait Anxiety Instrument -Child and State-Trait Anxiety Instrument will assess child and caretaker anxiety, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA and MANOVAs will test hypotheses. Long term, findings have the potential to improve child morbidity.