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Barbara J. Lutz, PhD, RN and Sheryl Curtis, MSN, ARNP. College of Nursing, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610-0197, 352-273-6350, bjlutz@nursing.ufl.edu
Asthma prevalence is increasing in children, especially those living in poverty. Self-management of asthma has been shown to decrease asthma episodes, school absenteeism, and emergency room visits. However, many schools do not have personnel available to implement self-management programs. In a partnership between the University of Florida College of Nursing (UF CON) and a public elementary school in Archer, Florida, baccalaureate community health nursing students and faculty designed and implemented an asthma self-management program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Archer Community School (ACS) is a rural, ethnically diverse elementary school with an enrollment of 371 children. Seventy-three percent of the children qualify for the free and reduced lunch programs. In 2001, 10% of the children at ACS were absent more than 21 days per year, and approximately 10% either have a diagnosis or reported symptoms of asthma. With a goal of reducing asthma episodes and absenteeism, the UF CON faculty received poverty reduction funds from the county to partner with ACS to develop and implement a pilot asthma management education program.
After being evaluated by a pediatric nurse practitioner, children with asthma were invited to participate in the program. Community health nursing students and faculty taught self-management skills to children with asthma. Environmental assessments of the school and children’s homes were also conducted and recommendations for modifications were made. The program is ongoing. This presentation will focus on successes and challenges of designing, implementing, and evaluating a college of nursing-elementary school partnership for a school-based asthma management program.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation the participant will be able to
Keywords: Asthma, School-Based Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.