title: The first camps in Turkey for asthmatic children: six years' experience.
abstract: The first asthma camp in Turkey was organized for one week in Iznik in September 1996. The camps were continued annually around the same time of the year in 1997, 1998, 2000, and in the consecutive years thereafter. The camp includes educational, sports and social activities. Children's knowledge about asthma and their attitudes towards physical and social activities were evaluated by a questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were performed on the first and last day of the camp. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean spirometric values of the first and last day of the camp in spite of a vigorous physical and social program. Children enhanced their skills and knowledge about asthma and gained self-confidence in participating in sportive and social activities during the camp program. They did not experience any emergency room visit in the following year. In conclusion, a summer camping experience is very beneficial for asthmatic children in terms of both self-education and social and physical participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ulker
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oneş
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sapan
authors.forename: Mehtap
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazicioğlu
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tamay
authors.forename: Ayper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somer
authors.forename: Yakup
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Canitez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey