Related Experiment Videos
A school-based asthma intervention program in the Buffalo, New York, schools.
Jamson Lwebuga-Mukasa1, Elisha Dunn-Georgiou
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Dept. of Medicine, Kaleida Health Buffalo General Division, SUNY, Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 100 High St., Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. jlwebuga@acsu.buffalo.edu
The Journal of School Health
|March 2, 2002
Summary
A school asthma program requiring healthcare provider plans significantly reduced asthma rescue treatments by 80% in a pilot study. The program proved feasible and effective in managing childhood asthma at school.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- School Health Programs
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Asthma exacerbations in school children lead to missed school days and require emergency care.
- Effective management strategies are needed to reduce the burden of childhood asthma in educational settings.
- Implementing structured asthma management plans in schools is a potential public health approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a school-based asthma program.
- To determine the program's impact on reducing asthma exacerbations among school children.
- To evaluate the role of Asthma Care Plans (ACPs) in managing student asthma.
Main Methods:
- A pilot case-control study was conducted in two schools, later expanded to five.
- Students requiring daily asthma medication at school needed a written Asthma Care Plan (ACP) from their healthcare provider.
- Data on rescue treatments for asthma episodes were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- The pilot intervention led to an 80% decrease in asthma rescue treatments in the first year.
- An overall 17% decrease in rescue treatments was observed across five schools over two years.
- Physician participation in providing ACPs reached 65%, with a threefold increase in plans requiring anti-inflammatory medications in two schools.
Conclusions:
- The school asthma program demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness in reducing asthma exacerbations.
- Implementing structured Asthma Care Plans is a viable strategy for improving asthma control in schools.
- This program offers a promising model for enhancing pediatric asthma management within the school environment.