Most
patient education studies use "fewer school days lost" as a measure of
a program's success in helping children control their asthma and
allergies.
However, a child's time out of school may tell you
more about the child's school than it does about the severity of the
child's condition or the quality of his or her asthma management
skills.
* Do school policies promote or hinder asthma control?
* Are school personnel knowledgeable about asthma and supportive of the child's needs?
* Is the administration of medication safe, reliable and convenient?
* Is there a process for eliminating asthma and allergy aggravators?
Asthma
can affect every aspect of the school day. Without some extra thought,
information, planning and communication, school can be an unfriendly,
hazardous place, even for a child with mild asthma.
To control
asthma at home and at school, parents, students and teachers need to
understand more than the pathophysiology of asthma and its treatment.
They need models of school policies and practices that are medically
and educationally appropriate. They need to understand the laws that
define a student's rights as well as the limits and the scope of the
school's obligations.
And, parents need the advocacy skills that enable them to build successful partnerships with school staff.
HEALTHY
KIDS is a consulting and advocacy service dedicated to helping
parents, health care professionals and educators plan cooperatively to
reduce obstacles to students' health and educational well-being.
I
invite you to use Healthy Kids resources and services to promote better
understanding and planning for students with asthma and allergies.
Share them with your patients and colleagues. Contact me at healthykids@rcn.com if you have questions about articles, consulting services or professional development programs.
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