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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Laura Burns, MPH, RN, AE-C¹, Jody Enoch, RN, BSN, PHN², and Lucie Ferguson, RN, MPH, PhD¹. (1) CARMA, Bon Secours Richmond Hospital System, 413 Stuart Circle, Suite 210, Richmond, VA 23220, 804-213-0917, lburns@carmakids.org, (2) Chesterfield County, Virginia Department of Health, 9501 Lucy Corr Circle, P.O. Box 100, Chesterfield, VA 23832

The Richmond metropolitan area has the highest per-capita rate of pediatric asthma hospitalizations in Virginia. The Central Virginia Asthma Coalition (CVAC), founded by local community members to address asthma morbidity in the Richmond area, includes a CDC-funded project, Controlling Asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan Area (CARMA). In Chesterfield County, asthma prevalence in middle schools was 10.5% in 2003 and 11.2% in 2005. Prevalence rates in individual schools varied from 10% to 17.5%. Through CVAC, the county Health Department's secondary school public health nurse supervisor, CARMA's nurse asthma educator and the Bon Secours Richmond Health System collaborated with the county school system administration to implement the Power Breathing Program in 50% (6 of 12) of middle schools in 2004, 75% in 2005 and 100% planned for 2006. Power Breathing gives students with asthma the knowledge to participate actively in symptom management, communicate and respond to symptoms appropriately. The design and implementation of this health education intervention for a high-risk group of children depended entirely upon collaborative relationships established and maintained through CVAC. Bon Secours Richmond Health System foundation purchased the Power Breathing kits and funded training for all Chesterfield County public health secondary school nurses. CARMA paid for all of the program supplies and incentives. The CARMA nurse educator worked with the school nurse supervisor to coordinate the training and order supplies and equipment necessary for program implementation. The school nurse supervisor navigated the approval process with the school administration. In each year, between 55% and 71% of participating students (n=40 in 2004; n=66 in 2005) reported fewer asthma episodes compared to the month before participation; increased knowledge and control when experiencing symptoms; increased trigger avoidance; skipping medications less frequently; and improved communication with peers about asthma management. The program was highlighted by a local news station as a community effort to help teens control their asthma.

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