Asthma-Friendly Child Care Training: An interactive health communication model for adult learners

Despite the steady advances in asthma therapy and treatment, asthma-related morbidity and mortality among children in the United States has continued in an upward trend. One important contributing factor in this disparity is the lack of asthma education for adults who care for children. Previously, there has been no asthma education or training provided for child care workers in Utah. An asthma survey was administered to child care facilities throughout the state. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with child care administration, workers, medical professionals, and parents of children with asthma that attend child care. Information was gathered on asthma knowledge, perceptions, and practices and preferences for asthma information dissemination. It was found that child care workers were unclear of the signs, symptoms and triggers of asthma, and were unsure of what to do in the event of an asthma attack. Child care workers preferred interactive, multisensory, and participatory training strategies. The “Asthma Friendly Child Care” training was developed, using research-based adult learning strategies. Learners are actively engaged in participating through discussion-promoting video scenarios, small-group projects, and user-friendly reference materials. Child care facility directors will be trained as facilitators at Utah's Annual Early Childhood Conference on March 14th and will present the training to their facilities. Surveys will be conducted with participants to measure the effectiveness of the training. This model will contribute to the limited asthma education materials available for child care workers, and provide a resource which other states can access and implement.