title: An evaluation of Open Airways for Schools: using college students as instructors.
abstract: Fifteen years ago, Open Airways for Schools (OAS) was found to be an effective asthma education program for elementary school children when taught by professionals. To determine whether OAS is effective when taught by college students and whether it could withstand potential cohort effects, 54 inner-city fourth and fifth graders were taught OAS. Paired t-tests revealed that OAS improved asthma knowledge, self-efficacy, self-management skills, social support, and perception of well-being (p < 0.05). Fifteen years later OAS continues to improve children's self-management skills. Facilitators with little prior experience who received brief training in asthma knowledge and group leadership skills can effectively teach OAS.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Pediatrics, New York, NY 10032, USA. jr504@columbia.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Markman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webber
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009519:New York City / Q000208:ethnology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014504:Urban Health