Teacher characteristics and knowledge of asthma.
OBJECTIVE
We explored the characteristics of teachers and their knowledge of asthma and its management in elementary and middle-school classrooms.


METHODS
Teachers completed the Georgia Public School Teachers' Asthma Knowledge and Perception Survey.


METHODS
The study sample consisted of 593 elementary (n=291) and middle-school teachers (n=302) from Georgia.


METHODS
Participants were asked to complete a survey on asthma knowledge. Data were analyzed to examine differences among elementary- and middle-school teachers, teachers' level of educational attainment, teachers' chronic medical condition, and teachers' asthma status.


RESULTS
Middle-school teachers were more knowledgeable about asthma than elementary teachers. No differences were found among teachers based on their level of educational attainment. Most teachers strongly agreed that asthma could not be cured, but managed. Teachers with chronic illnesses were more knowledgeable than those without a chronic illness and teachers who had asthma were the most knowledgeable about asthma and its management.


CONCLUSIONS
Teacher knowledge of asthma and its management was low among all teachers regardless of educational attainment, health status, or whether teachers taught at elementary or middle-school levels.
Getch
Yvette Q
YQ
Departmentof Counseling and Human Development Services, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. ygetch@uga.edu
Neuharth-Pritchett
Stacey
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D055815:Young Adult