title: Enhancing school asthma action plans: qualitative results from southeast Minnesota beacon stakeholder groups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explores ways southeast Minnesota schools currently address asthma problems, identifies areas for improvement, and assesses the potential value of asthma action plans (AAPs) in schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were used to query stakeholder groups on asthma care in schools. Groups were held separately for elementary school personnel, parents of elementary school children with asthma, and health professionals (N = 103). Transcripts were analyzed by hand and by using NVivo 9 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 103 stakeholders participated in focus groups. Major themes were (1) Communication; no uniform way of exchanging information between schools and health professionals. (2) Asthma Control Continuum; students require individualized instructions and information related to their asthma care. (3) Policy/Protocol; school staff roles and rules vary and are unclear. (4) Self-Reliance; older children self-manage their asthma and are unknown until they need emergent support. Solution recommended included AAPs used systematically with a method to communicate back from schools to physicians and parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AAP may solve several of the school's concerns regarding their ability to provide asthma support in school. However, the AAP must reach the school, and that is currently not happening. In addition, schools would like tools and systems to assess asthma control and share information back with parents and physicians.
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, (egginton.jason@mayo.edu), Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Egginton
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Textor
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Knoebel
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McWilliams
authors.forename: Marty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleman
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yawn
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D019468:Disease Management; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care
keywords: asthma; asthma action plan; asthma exacerbations; schools