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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dominique M. Fradin-Read, MD, MPH¹, Sandra Graham-Hendricks, MD¹, Thelma Gamboa-Maldonado, MPH¹, Sonja Halterman, BS¹, Erin Rawson, MPH¹, Loida Burrowes_Henry, BS¹, Monica Morales, BS¹, Patti Herring, PhD, RN¹, Kiti Freier, PhD², and Elizabeth Holzhauser, MPH¹. (1) School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, NICHOL HALL, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 909-307-1184, domfradinread@adelphia.net, (2) School of Science & Technology, Loma Linda University, Graduate School, Central Building 11130 Anderson, Loma Linda, CA 92350

Every child has the right to an asthma-friendly environment, and parents should be able to do everything possible to provide such an environment for their children. While asthma is a staggering health problem both in the U.S. and worldwide, it is a particular problem in California where one in five children is affected by the disease. Asthma can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies, family history, respiratory infections, diet, exercise, underdeveloped lungs that result from premature birth, and overexposure to indoor allergens and dust mites. Parent knowledge of these factors is vital, as many of them can be modified or controlled. A general needs assessment conducted at the Head Start Program in Highland, California, revealed that both parents and staff members desired more asthma education. The assessment consisted of ethnographic observations, twelve key informant interviews, and one confirmatory focus group. The interviews were coded according to grounded theory methods and were evaluated in order that emerging themes could be detected. Results indicated that parents needed both greater access to information about asthma and specific knowledge in order to help their children manage the disease. Consequently, a pilot program to educate parents and staff about preventing the occurrence of asthma and managing its symptoms was developed, implemented, and evaluated with favorable results.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize three common early symptoms of “hidden asthma” in young children.
• Discuss environmental factors that can be changed to improve the quality of life for children living with asthma.
• Identify four frequent barriers for effective disease control in children already diagnosed with asthma.
• Describe how a community-based educational program specially designed for parents of asthmatic children might positively impact outpatient care and reduce the number of preventable pediatric asthma emergency visits and hospitalization.

Keywords: Asthma, Child Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered