New evidence-based findings about asthma management in schools

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute supported a special issue of the Journal of School Health focused on “Managing Asthma in Schools—What Have We Learned.” A call for papers was widely distributed in the fall of 2004. More than 50 papers were submitted, and an external peer review process was used to select papers. Twenty-seven papers written by researchers and asthma program staff across the country were published. The publication features articles, brief reports, and case studies that cover a range of activities, such as asthma education programs for students or staff members, asthma-related health services, and policy changes. The authors share a wide range of strategies to improve students' asthma control, as well as challenges they have faced, pitfalls to avoid, and important lessons learned. Five key lessons emerged from the research and case study findings reported in this special issue: 1) Establish strong links with asthma care clinicians to ensure appropriate and ongoing medical care. 2) Target students who are the most affected by asthma at school. 3) Get administrative buy-in and build a team of enthusiastic people to support the program. 4) Use a coordinated multi-component and collaborative approach. 5) Support evaluation of school-based programs and use adequate and appropriate outcome measures. We now know several critical components of school-based asthma programs. As we move forward, promising ideas for programs should be evaluated and the results published, whether or not a strong research design is possible.