297349
Developing Asthma-Friendly Childcare Centers Through Online Training and Evaluation
Researchers from Florida State University evaluated both years of the online training. Evaluators used a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessment. Questions measured knowledge gain and retention, user satisfaction, and implementation of management strategies.
Over 650 people from nearly all 67 Florida counties took AFCC training online between 2011 and 2013. Test scores improved at least 11 percent on average. Gains in both knowledge and confidence were substantial and highly significant across years. While individual trainees did forget some content on follow-up, they seemed to retain the specific messages most relevant for their own workplaces. As many as 82 percent of trainees implemented each recommended management strategy.
A large majority of participants rated the training as excellent on all quality metrics, including relevance of content and time efficiency of the online format. Nearly all respondents perceived the training as useful for both providing improved care and fulfilling licensure or certification requirements. Many participants also indicated that their centers would pursue formal certification as AFCCs via the program offered by FAC. The online AFCC course performed superbly in its first years, and holds promise for improving asthma management at childcare facilities nationwide.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionConduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety
Other professions or practice related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Explain background and preliminary outcomes for the AFCC training course.
Review results from pilot years of AFCC training in Florida.
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the AFCC course.
Assess the potential value of offering the AFCC training in your community.
Discuss viable strategies for implementing AFCC in your community.
Keyword(s): Asthma, Child Health Promotion
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the primary person who conducted this research at FSU, in support of broader evaluation efforts surrounding hospital-based asthma management in Florida. I serve as co-Principal Investigator on a multi-year contract from FL DOH to evaluate their asthma management program, as well as the Florida Asthma Coalition. I have training and prior work experience in public health research, program evaluation, and medical sociology that inform my work on these topics.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.