School preparation for the asthmatic student

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• School Nursing
• Asthma Management

Background:

• Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in children.
• Effective asthma management in schools requires clear emergency plans and appropriate equipment.
• School nurses play a critical role in managing students' asthma during school hours.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the availability and utilization of emergency asthma equipment and action plans in schools.
• To understand the extent of school nurses' involvement in developing and implementing these plans.
• To identify gaps in asthma emergency preparedness within the school setting.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to school nurses.
• Data collected focused on the frequency of asthma-related visits, the presence of emergency asthma action plans, and the availability of specific equipment.
• Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data.

Main Results:

• A significant percentage of school nurses reported that a majority of students with asthma do not have a complete emergency action plan (only 20% reported 75%-100% coverage).
• 24% of nurses were unaware if students had an emergency plan, and only half had input into plan development.
• Availability of emergency equipment was limited: oxygen (16%), peak flow meters (45%), metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) (0%), and nebulizers (20%).

Conclusions:

• Many students with asthma lack adequate emergency action plans in schools.
• School nurses' involvement in asthma action plan development and the availability of essential emergency asthma equipment are insufficient.
• There is a critical need to improve asthma emergency preparedness in schools to ensure student safety and well-being.