Asthma School Program in children and their parents.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to analyze the clinical efficiency of Asthma Education Intervention (AEI, Asthma School) in children and their parents, a program was designed to produce acceptable asthma knowledge and to improve the treatment.


METHODS
This study assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention within 12 months after attending Asthma School. The study was designed as a population based cohort study. The project endorsed by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Educational Grant was launched in 2004 and finished in 2006, but the Asthma School continued working. Three hundred and two asthmatics recruited during hospital treatment of acute asthma exacerbation completed the study together with their parents. The intervention group of 231 asthmatics received full Asthma School program. The non-intervention group enrolled 71 asthmatics receiving usual instructions for asthma management. Clinical and educational outcomes were investigated immediately after completion of the program and 12 months later.


RESULTS
Significant achievements were found in the intervention group in asthma knowledge (baseline score 63%, 82% after 12 months, P<0.05), compliance (70% before, 90% after), and inhalation technique (20% before, 70% after). No change was found in the attitude and behavior regarding asthma prognosis in adolescent patients and parents.


CONCLUSIONS
This study together with others clearly confirm the effectiveness of educational intervention for childhood asthma.
Zivković
Zorica
Z
Children's Hospital for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical Center Dr Dragisa Misović, Belgrade, Serbia, zoricazivkovic@yahoo.com
Radić
Snezana
S
Cerović
Sofija
S
Vukasinović
Zoran
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents