Scheduled for AAHE Research Coordinating Board: Professional Poster Session, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, National Association Poster Sessions


Asthma 101: Training Teachers for Successful Asthma Management at School

Heidi Hataway1, Christy Hill2, Brandi Baker2, Adam Dubose2 and Gayle L. Bush3, (1)Alabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery, AL, (2)Steps to a Healthier Alabama, Troy, AL, (3)Troy University, Troy, AL

Effective management of asthma at school can help encourage a positive and healthy learning environment. Asthma management training with school teachers and staff can help provide support in an emergency, and help teachers to encourage students to participate in all school activities. The American Lung Association developed Asthma 101: The Basics to address these issues. Asthma 101 is a free one-hour educational program presented by trained health care professionals providing information on valuable asthma management and instruction. The Steps to a Healthier Alabama staff conducted this training for 52 teachers and staff at three local schools in Pike County Alabama in January of 2007. The participants were given a pretest and posttest of ten questions regarding information discussed in the training. The questions covered such topics as the prevalence of asthma, basic signs and symptoms of asthma, common triggers found in the school environment, basic management of an acute asthma episode, asthma medications and delivery devices, and asthma management and monitoring tools. Positive change from pretest to posttest occurred for all questions except question nine, regarding nebulizer use. Participants may have been confused about the difference between the peak flow meter, the nebulizer and the inhaler. This result will be considered in future trainings, to provide clarity for the participants. This poster session discusses the results of an Asthma 101 training session with the results of the ten question knowledge survey, and reviews the basic information covered in the training. The need for concise asthma education and asthma management within the schools is becoming more important with the growing number of children being diagnosed with asthma. This poster session reviews this program that gives teachers the knowledge and management plan needed so they can react appropriately to their student's asthma. Information on how teachers and administrators can find an Asthma 101 training sessions in their area will be provided.
Keyword(s): disease prevention/wellness, health promotion, professional preparation

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