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Assessing the efficacy of a school-based asthma education program for children: a pilot study
N L Young1, A M Foster, P C Parkin
1Division of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8. nyoung@sickkids.on.ca
Summary
A school-based asthma education program (SBAEP) improved quality of life for children with asthma, particularly in symptom management. Further trials are needed to confirm these positive findings for pediatric asthma care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Health Education
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Asthma significantly impacts school-aged children's quality of life.
- Effective interventions are needed to improve health outcomes for pediatric asthma patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a School-Based Asthma Education Program (SBAEP) on the quality of life in school-aged children with asthma.
- To compare the effectiveness of a comprehensive SBAEP versus standard educational materials.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 1st to 5th graders diagnosed with asthma at two schools.
- One school received the SBAEP intervention; the other served as a control group with written asthma information.
- Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) administered pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The SBAEP group demonstrated clinically significant improvements in overall quality of life.
- Specifically, the symptom subdomain of the PAQLQ showed notable positive changes in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- The "Air Force" SBAEP shows a promising trend towards enhancing the quality of life for children with asthma.
- Further large-scale research is recommended to validate and refine the SBAEP's effectiveness.