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

Abstract #116194

Laura Oatman, MS¹, William Angell, MS², Erica L. Fishman, MSW MPH¹, and Janet Keysser, MA MBA¹. (1) Minnesota Department of Health, P.O. Box 9441, Minneapolis, MN 55440-9441, 612-676-5213, erica.fishman@health.state.mn.us, (2) University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Ave. (DHA), Saint Paul, MN 55108-6136

Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Research shows that in the United States, over 10 million school days are missed due to asthma each year. By combining a reduction of environmental asthma “triggers” in the school's internal environment with increased asthma awareness and proper medical management, most asthma episodes can be prevented. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is using a holistic approach to manage asthma in schools that includes the development of a comprehensive asthma resource and training manual for school personnel, a one-day training course targeting school health personnel, and interventions in 18 mostly rural, middle schools. The middle school asthma project includes a convenience survey of 7th and 8th grade students; an environmental walkthrough of the schools; encouraging the Minnesota Asthma Coalition to interact with the schools through their regional coalitions; and working with the schools' health staff to increase the number of students with written asthma action plans. The environmental walkthrough conducted in each school includes the common indoor air asthma triggers identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (animals, dust mites, mold, pests, secondhand smoke), outdoor air quality, cleaning practices, and Minnesota specific regulations for school indoor air and pesticide use. This presentation will focus on the results of the environmental walkthrough project including the most frequent asthma triggers identified in the schools and the recommendations provided to improve the school environment. Results from other components of Minnesota's holistic approach will be briefly addressed.

Learning Objectives:

• List the five indoor air asthma triggers commonly found in schools.
• List the indoor environment asthma triggers identified during the walkthroughs of Minnesota school buildings.
• Prioritize the low cost interventions recommended to mitigate asthma triggers in Minnesota schools.
• Describe the components of a comprehensive school asthma management plan.

Keywords: Asthma, School Health

Related Web page: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/asthma/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.