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Teacher Characteristics and Knowledge of Asthma
Author(s) -
Getch Yvette Q.,
NeuharthPritchett Stacey
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2009.00763.x
Subject(s) - asthma , school teachers , educational attainment , perception , psychology , sample (material) , medicine , knowledge level , public health , asthma management , medical education , mathematics education , family medicine , nursing , chemistry , chromatography , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Objectives: We explored the characteristics of teachers and their knowledge of asthma and its management in elementary and middle‐school classrooms. Design: Teachers completed the Georgia Public School Teachers' Asthma Knowledge and Perception Survey. Sample: The study sample consisted of 593 elementary ( n =291) and middle‐school teachers ( n =302) from Georgia. Methods: Participants were asked to complete a survey on asthma knowledge. Data were analyzed to examine differences among elementary‐ and middle‐school teachers, teachers' level of educational attainment, teachers' chronic medical condition, and teachers' asthma status. Results: Middle‐school teachers were more knowledgeable about asthma than elementary teachers. No differences were found among teachers based on their level of educational attainment. Most teachers strongly agreed that asthma could not be cured, but managed. Teachers with chronic illnesses were more knowledgeable than those without a chronic illness and teachers who had asthma were the most knowledgeable about asthma and its management. Conclusions: Teacher knowledge of asthma and its management was low among all teachers regardless of educational attainment, health status, or whether teachers taught at elementary or middle‐school levels.