Screening for asthma: results from a rural cohort
T Kim Callahan Rodehorst1, Susan L Wilhelm, Mary Beth Stepans
1University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361, USA. tkrodeho@unmc.edu
Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing
|December 28, 2006
Summary
School-based asthma screening can identify at-risk children, but follow-up care remains a challenge. Many parents desire screening, yet barriers like cost and perceived lack of symptoms hinder consistent medical attention for pediatric asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric respiratory health
- Public health surveillance
- School nursing
Background:
- Asthma is a leading chronic childhood illness requiring management in home and school settings.
- Identifying children with asthma risk factors is crucial for public health objectives.
- Tracking asthma's impact on mortality, morbidity, and care access is a national health priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify rural children at risk for asthma using written screening methods.
- To assess respiratory health status in rural school-aged children via spirometry (FEV1, FVC, PEF, FEF(25-75)).
- To determine the rate of follow-up care and definitive asthma diagnosis among these children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective descriptive study design was employed.
- The Vulnerable Populations Framework guided the research organization.
- Written screening tools were used to identify children at risk for asthma.
Main Results:
- Approximately 12% of screened children were referred to a primary care provider (PCP).
- Only about half of referred children attended their PCP appointment.
- Barriers to follow-up included intermittent symptoms, reluctance for diagnosis, cost, and time constraints.
Conclusions:
- School-based asthma screening can identify undiagnosed or poorly managed pediatric asthma cases.
- Written screenings, potentially combined with spirometry, can aid in identifying at-risk children.
- Further research is needed to compare the efficacy of written screening versus spirometry in ambulatory settings.
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