Teachers' Knowledge About Asthma: Assessment, Correlates, and Sources

Abstract

Sixty-eight teachers participated in a study aimed to assess their knowledge about asthma. Findings show that teachers have an inadequate basic level of knowledge of many issues re¬ lated to asthma, including school activities permitted for asthmatic children. The considerable variance of asthma knowledge among teachers related to the following areas: age (younger teachers had better knowledge), personal experience with an asthmatic child, involvement in health education, and reading newspapers and journal articles on health issues. Level of edu¬ cation, classes taught, and being a homeroom teacher were not related to their knowledge about asthma. For the benefit of the asthmatic pupil, it is recommended that a school health program be developed that will deal with the general knowledge of bronchial asthma, includ¬ ing its realistic limitations and modes of coping for the school pupil.

Asthma-Related Environmental Practices and Asthma Awareness in California Child Care Centers

“…Knowledge about asthma symptoms, potential asthma triggers, and appropriate treatment was particularly inadequate. [10][11][12][13][14] Because both the prevalence of asthma and the number of children enrolled in child care is increasing, child care centers and staff can play an increasingly important role in controlling asthma morbidity and thus improving a child's general health, allowing them to perform in activities and prepare for school entry. This study aimed to assess asthma-related environmental practices in California licensed child care centers as well as asthma knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among their staff.…”