Oral

Asthma continues to pose a major health risk and reason for children’s absence from school. This session will focus discussion on results from an evaluation of a school-based environmental health science training program designed to educate school personnel about asthma management; findings from a study to assess retention of asthma management education among elementary school children showing that follow-up booster sessions in middle schools were vital to preserving not only knowledge and skills, but self-efficacy for asthma management; a review of literature that showed that while school-based asthma education programs may increase knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management behaviors, they may be less effective on health outcomes like days and nights with symptoms and school absenteeism; and an evaluation of the “Starlight Asthma Tool Kit” developed for nurses to teach school staff members about asthma management for students.

Session Objectives: Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation participants will be able to (1) Recognize the importance of environmental health science training as a vital component for effective asthma management education for school personnel; (2) Discuss the results of an asthma management program study done to assess retention of asthma management education from elementary through middle school students; (3) Articulate the results of a review of literature indicating that while school-based asthma education programs may increase knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management behaviors, they may be less effective on health outcomes like days and nights with symptoms and school absenteeism; and (4) Describe the evaluation of training workshops done among California nurses on how to utilize the “Starlight Asthma Tool Kit” to teach school personnel about how to manage asthma in students.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing