Asthma management in school: parents’ and school personnel perspectives

Abstract

Objective: Effective asthma management at school can help students with asthma stay healthy, learn better and participate fully during their school day. This study sought to understand school-based asthma care from the perspective of parents and school personnel to improve asthma care at school. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hartford, CT. School personnel from 59 schools and 322 parents/guardians were invited to participate. Four cross-sectional surveys using Likert-type scales assessed parental and school personnel satisfaction, confidence in managing asthma, policy awareness, management of asthma during physical activity, and perceived gaps surrounding school-based asthma care. Results: 263/322 (82%) eligible parents of children with asthma (mean age 8.5 ± 4.3, 56% Hispanic, 30% African American) completed surveys. Thirty six school nurses (62%), 131 teachers (8%), 14 coaches (14%), and 17 school principals (29%) participated. 90% of parents were satisfied with asthma management in school. School nurses were more aware of asthma policies than teachers (74% vs. 24%, p < 0.001). 34% of school nurses, 30% of teachers and 36% of coaches were unaware of asthma-related absences. 14% of physical education teachers/coaches reported no asthma training. Conclusion: In this convenience sample of parents and school personnel, parents reported overall satisfaction regarding the asthma care their children receive at school, yet a number of gaps pertaining to school-based asthma care were identified. Increased asthma training and enhanced communication among school personnel is needed to address these gaps. National guidelines and resources are readily available to improve asthma care at school.

Keywords:

• Parent
• teacher
• coach
• school nurse
• principal
• communication
• physical activity
• policy
• school absence

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Hartford Public Schools community for providing feedback for this study. We would also like to thank Ms. Nicole Gherlone, Mr. Brian Lesmes and Ms. Carol Vinick, APRN for conducting the Hartford Resident Surveys.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute grant: 1U34 HL130665-01, The Asthma Neighborhood: Collaborative for Asthma Equity in Children. The authors are alone responsible for the content and writing of this paper.