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Improvement in asthma management practices in child care services: an evaluation of a staff education program
Author(s) -
Hazell Juliana,
Henry Richard L.,
Lynn Francis J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he06021
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , nursing , family medicine , health care , asthma management , economics , economic growth
Issues addressed The aim of this study was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of asthma management in child care services in the Hunter region and to develop, implement and evaluate a health education program to address the deficiencies. Methods A questionnaire was sent to the 190 child care services in the Hunter region in 1997 to assess their asthma management practices. Results of the survey were used to develop a two‐hour training workshop for child care staff in the management of asthma. District‐based workshops were conducted for 535 child care staff (representing 140 services) over two years. Participants completed pre‐ and post‐workshop knowledge and confidence questionnaires. The survey was repeated in 2000. Results The baseline survey identified potential for substantial improvement in the management of asthma in child care services and in the training of staff. Training workshops significantly improved asthma knowledge and confidence in managing asthma (p<0.0001). The follow‐up survey showed that an additional 50% (p<0.0001) of all child care services had implemented recommended asthma management practices. Conclusion The program was effective in achieving vast improvements in the knowledge and confidence that child care staff require to manage asthma and has led to the broad dissemination and adoption of the appropriate policies and procedures for the management of asthma in child care services. So what? Deficiencies in asthma management in child care services were successfully addressed with a two‐hour training workshop administered at a district level. The associated changes in asthma management practices promoted an environment for better asthma care of pre‐school children.