title: Asthma knowledge and management in primary schools in south Auckland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to examine the management of asthma in primary schools and the school teachers' knowledge, confidence and attitude in managing the pupils with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  forty-two primary schools in south Auckland were randomly selected to participate. Questionnaires were posted out to the principals and another questionnaire was given randomly to 253 teachers from these primary schools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  76% of the school principals surveyed returned the questionnaire; and 66% of the school teachers surveyed returned a separate questionnaire. The average incidence of asthma reported by school principals and school teachers was 9.9% and 12.6% respectively, which suggests underreporting of the diagnosis of asthma. In 81% of the schools a questionnaire was used to identify students with asthma when they first join the school. School teachers had good basic knowledge on asthma, however 33% of teachers did not know that Ventolin (salbutamol) is for symptomatic treatment and 58% and 65% of teachers did not know that Becotide (beclomethasone) and Intal (sodium cromoglycate) are prophylactic medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  we suggest that primary school teachers should receive further education on asthma, especially on practical aspects of asthma management.
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, School of Medicine.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000420:Albuterol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005178:Faculty / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001507:Beclomethasone; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; D000420:Albuterol