Background: School settings are one of the most crucial context for asthma management second only to a child’s home. Today school administrators are faced with many challenges, not only are they responsible for students' learning needs but they also manage complex behavioural and health issues including asthma. Most do not have standardized plans regarding asthma management. Objectives: 1) Systematically review the research literature related to asthma management within the school setting. 2) Determine current asthma management practices as reported by school administrators. 3) Explore experiences and barriers to asthma management practices with school administrators. Method: Guided by the Knowledge to Action framework, the study was divided in three phases using a planned action approach and included an integrative synthesis of the evidence, an administrators’ survey, and an administrator’s meeting. Findings: Phase One: Following a search using three databases, 67 articles were critiqued. The literature illustrates that many countries have established “asthma friendly schools” legislation that includes process for identifying children with asthma, right to self-carry and administer medications, enhancing communication and cooperation between school staff, parents, and children with asthma, reducing triggers in school environment, and effective policies that make legislation a functioning reality within schools. Phase Two: Ninety-seven surveys were distributed within two district school boards with 61 completed surveys returned (63% response rate). Key findings included underestimation of the prevalence of asthma, no standardized process for identifying children with asthma, staff training deficiency for recognizing and responding to asthma exacerbations, lack of individual asthma action plans for children, absence of programs to support current legislation and best practice guidelines. Communication was the most common barrier identified by school administrators. Phase Three: Two principals in an administrator’s meeting validated the survey results. Participants were not familiar with the concept of asthma friendly school, asthma prevalence rates, or free school asthma resources. Asthma Action Plans were not universally understood as individualized written plans but rather a generalized first aide response plan. Conclusion: There are knowledge and practices gaps placing children with asthma at risk for exacerbation and death within school setting. Administrators want to partner to facilitate optimal asthma management within the school setting. / Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2013-11-25 11:38:01.902

No description available.

Objectives. The prevalence and incidence of asthma has been continually increasing with in the United States. High rates of hospitalization, emergency room visits (ER) and infrequent prescribing of controller medications indicates the lack or inadequacies of asthma management in the home as well as primary care programs. This study examines the impact of adequate asthma management and preventive care on asthma ER visits. Methods. Data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was utilized. Children (N=653) under the age of 18 years and who have had asthma episode in the past year were included for this analysis. A composite variable was created to determine adequacy of care at home and in the primary care setting using standards from the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Results. The prevalence of ER visit among children who had asthma in the past 12 months was 22.7%. Approximately a quarter (24%) of the children had inadequate asthma management and preventive care. The multiple logistic regressions analysis showed that asthma management and preventive care were important determinants for asthma ER visits. Compared to children who had adequate care, children with inadequate asthma management and preventive care were two times more likely to visit the ER for asthma related problems [OR=2.06 (95%CI=1.257, 3.361)]. Child's age, maternal education, and family income were also statistically significant determinants for asthma related ER visits.Conclusions. Practices that support early interventions for asthma management and preventive care were associated with reduced risk of ER visits. Initiatives to support mandatory asthma management education and programming at primary care practices and as well as the home setting are essential in the management of pediatric asthma.

Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka effekten på astmakontroll och lungfunktion av ett web-baserat stödprogram för astmapatienter inom primärvården. Metod Studien var en 2-armad randomiserad, kontrollerad studie med kvantitativ ansats som pågick under 6 månader. Båda grupperna fick astmavård utifrån hur den bedrivs på vårdcentralerna och interventionsgruppen fick även tillgång till ett nyskapat web-baserat stödprogram (Astmakollen) för astmapatienter. Totalt slutförde 83 deltagare studien, varav 39 ingick i interventionsgruppen och 44 i kontrollgruppen. Resultat Denna studie visade signifikant förbättring av astmakontroll hos de patienter som haft tillgång till det web-baserade stödprogrammet Astmakollen under 6 månader. Medelvärdet på astma kontroll test i interventionsgruppen steg med 2,23 poäng medan värdet i kontrollgruppen var tämligen oförändrat. Effektstorleken för denna förändring mätt i Cohens d var 0,57. Medelvärdet av lungfunktionen i interventionsgruppen steg med 0,3% under studietiden medan den försämrades i kontrollgruppen och effektstorleken uppgick till 0,45. Skillnaden mellan grupperna var signifikant. Konklusion I denna studie framkommer det att e-hälsa kan ge en förbättrad astmakontroll och bibehållen lungfunktion samt vara ett komplement till dagens astmavård genom att öka tillgängligheten av individanpassad och evidensbaserad vård. / Objective The aim of this study was to examine the impact on asthma control and lung function of a web-based support program for asthma patients in primary care. Method The study was a quantitative, parallel, 2-arm, randomized controlled trial over a 6-month period. Both groups received asthma care based on how it was conducted at the health centers and the intervention group also gained access to a newly created web-based support program (Astmakollen) for asthma patients. In total, 83 participants completed the study, of whom 39 were in the intervention group and 44 in the control group. Results This study has showed significant improvement in asthma management in the sample group who had access to the web-based support program for 6 months. The mean score for asthma control test in the intervention group increased by 2,23 points while the score in the control group remained almost the same. The effect size for this change measured in Cohens d was 0,57. The mean score of lungfunction in the intervention group increased by 0,3% during the study period, while it deteriorated in the control group and the effect size amounted to 0,45. The difference between the groups were significant. Conclusions In this study, it appears that eHealth can provide improved asthma control and maintained lung function and be a complement in today's asthma care by increasing accessibility of personalized and evidence-based care.

Despite advancements in asthma treatment and diagnosis, asthma still remains the number 1 cause for hospitalizations in school-aged children. This usability study aimed to develop a child-friendly interactive narrative, Okay with Asthma v2.0, based on the Biopsychosocial Family Model using feedback from children. This fun and kid-friendly program encourages children to manage their own asthma with the help of peers, families, communities, and health care services. With these support structures, children can identify and avoid triggers, monitor their asthma, manage their condition with medications based on an action plan, and learn to live happily with asthma.

Despite advancements in asthma treatment and diagnosis, asthma still remains the number 1 cause for hospitalizations in school-aged children. This usability study aimed to develop a child-friendly interactive narrative, Okay with Asthma v2.0, based on the Biopsychosocial Family Model using feedback from children. This fun and kid-friendly program encourages children to manage their own asthma with the help of peers, families, communities, and health care services. With these support structures, children can identify and avoid triggers, monitor their asthma, manage their condition with medications based on an action plan, and learn to live happily with asthma.

No description available.

Asthma is described as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Recurrent episodes of acute attacks or exacerbation may occur in susceptible individuals. Asthma could be a controllable disorder and most people with asthma should be able to lead a n

Asthma is a chronic condition affecting approximately 235 million people worldwide, yet international studies have identified that most adolescents with asthma have poor self-management skills. Asthma is common in adolescent males however only a few studies have specifically investigated the asthma experiences of this population group. The aim of this study was to explore how male adolescents understand and manage their asthma symptoms. A qualitative descriptive study design was selected to investigate the experiences of male adolescents, focusing on their perceptions of societal and masculine influences on their asthma management. Individual semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 male adolescents to capture data about their perceptions of masculinity, asthma management, interpersonal relationships, and their physical wellbeing. Findings support previous research illustrating that asthma restricts adolescent male’s lives, both at school and recreationally. This study established that these restrictions could unpredictably affect perceived masculine ideals and their ability to be independent, strong, muscular, and competitive. Consequently, the majority of participants felt their masculinity was challenged and described feeling different, isolated, and/or marginalised from their non-asthmatic peers. To counteract these feelings, maintain control, and seek normality in front of peers, most participants reported downplaying their asthma symptoms and/or did not adhere to their prescribed treatment regimes. In addition, hegemonic representations of males as ‘tough’ and ‘self-reliant’ influenced most participants to describe re-active, non-help seeking behaviours, and minimisation of their asthma symptoms. However not all participants described adverse outcomes, with a minority resisting hegemonic ideals by taking care of their health and asthma management. Findings illustrate how a variety of masculine ideals influenced young men’s health and asthma management. Further research is required to investigate the ways differential masculine ideals may be protective or detrimental to asthma medication.

Asthma is described as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Recurrent episodes of acute attacks or exacerbation may occur in susceptible individuals. Asthma could be a controllable disorder and most people with asthma should be able to lead a n / Magister Curationis