Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107099

Naseeb Kibria¹, Katherine Pruitt, and Elizabeth Lancet³. (1) Program Services, American Lung Association, 1150 18th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036, 202-785-3355, nkibria@lungusadc.org, (2) Research and Scientific Affairs, American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY NY 10006

The American Lung Association Open Airways For Schools is a asthma health education management program for 8-11 year old elementary school children. Based on a study by the researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, this curriculum of six 40 minute lessons teaches children with asthma how to take better control of their condition. Children learn about their asthma symptoms, triggers that may set off an asthma episode, about asthma medications through a series of interactive teaching tools that includes role-playing, posters and handouts. There are activities sent home to the parent or caregiver in order to involve them in the learning process. The American Lung Association has been conducting this program in schools across the country since 1996. During 1998-1999, six local Lung Associations evaluated data collected in their respective communities which demonstrated the positive impact of the Open Airways For Schools program. No formal evaluation of pooled data has been done since then. The program currently uses a pre/post test that measures changes in a child's asthma management knowledge, skills and attitude. For this poster presentation, the local pre and post data have been analyzed in order to gauge the impact of Open Airways For Schools across the United States in the recent years.

Learning Objectives: