SA³MPROTM Education for School Personnel and Students
The school nurse has an instrumental role in addressing the components of asthma education via interactions with students, school staff, and families. Below are several educational resources for school nurses and health aides, followed by educational resources for PE teachers/coaches.
Educational Resources for School Nurses and Health Aides
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Program
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Materials/Content
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Notes
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What is Asthma?
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Online education
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• English and Spanish
• Updated August, 2014
• Comprehensive education
• Not specific for school nurses, some information may not be needed
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Know How to Use Your Asthma Inhaler
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Online video/PDF files
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• Various inhaler techniques, including use of spacers
• English and Spanish
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Educational Resources for PE Teachers/Coaches
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Program
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Materials/Content
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Notes
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Asthma and Physical Activity in the Schools
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29 page booklet
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• Asthma basic education
• Specific information on exercise and asthma
• Treatment
• Alternatives for ill students
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Treatment of Asthma Symptoms
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Web/HTML or pdf poster
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• Poster that outlines steps to manage an asthma episode when no school nurse is present
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Air quality information
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Interactive map
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• Identify air quality for locale
• Help to determine whether outdoor activities should be restricted for students with asthma
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Know How to Use Your Asthma Inhaler
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Online video/PDF files
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• Various inhaler techniques, including use of spacers
• English and Spanish
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The school nurse is in a unique position to identify gaps in asthma care and knowledge and to address these needs through referral and education. Opportunities for asthma education occur in the school setting through both formal education programs and also through informal “teachable moments” with the student, staff, and parent/guardian.
A critical component of this education is recognizing worsening asthma symptoms and/or lack of asthma control. This awareness of warning signs, including when and where to get help, should be provided to all school staff and students.
Knowledge and understanding of the AAP and/or AEP are also necessary components of the asthma care of the student and education of the staff. Educational Resources for Students with Asthma can be found below.
Educational Resources for Students with Asthma
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Program
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Age
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Language
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Training
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Time
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Notes
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Fight Asthma Now®
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Two separate programs: 1. Youth (3rd-6th grade)
2. Teen (7th-12th grade)
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English
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2 day in-person instructor training course required ($300 per person)
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Four 45 minute sessions OR three 60 minute sessions
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• Validated in Chicago (2011) showing significant increases in asthma knowledge and spacer technique competency,
• Other outcomes not evaluated due to the lack of access to data including school absences and asthma related healthcare utilization.
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Iggy and the Inhalers©
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Ages 7-12
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English
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Not required – should be health professional. Validated using asthma nurse
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One 30 minute session
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• Validated 2015 through program evaluation performed in urban school district (results in process of being published); showing significant increase in child's asthma knowledge with persistent retention at one month follow-up testing
• Program includes video and posters for teaching; child takes home comic book, trading cards and stickers to review with parent/guardian
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Kickin’ Asthma©
Email for program information:
KickinAsthma@lung.org
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Middle-high school
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English
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Training required though self-explanatory – no cost (school nurses, RTs used in Chicago)
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Four 50 minute sessions
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• ALA program validated in Oakland, CA 2003-08 with continued use by local ALA groups (such as Chicago)
• Students experienced significantly fewer days with activity limitations & fewer nights of sleep disturbance along with less healthcare utilization (ED visits/hospitalizations per student report)
• Culturally sensitive/appropriate
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Kids Health® (Nemours)
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All ages
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English
Spanish
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Web-based
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Online
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• Web-based education for parents/teens/”kids”
• A variety of health issues addressed
• Not a formal education program
• Able to read along with audio
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Open Airways for Schools®
(American Lung Association)
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Ages 8-11
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English
Spanish
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Certified Facilitator
(4 hours training required)
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Six 40 minute sessions
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• Validated program last updated in 2008 (facilitator training updated 2012)
• Provides an interactive approach to asthma self-management education covering warning signs, trigger avoidance & decision making skills
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SHARP or Staying Healthy – Asthma Responsible & Prepared©
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Ages 9-14
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English
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Ten 50 minute workbook-guided sessions
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• An academic asthma health education & counseling program
• Complements existing school curricula
• Program teachers provide general asthma health information & counseling
• Retired teachers trained by asthma nurses to provide the program
• Students demonstrated significant improvement in (a) asthma knowledge, (b) reasoning about asthma management, (c) acceptance in taking control of the condition, vigilance in self-monitoring, openness to learning and sharing with others, and connectedness with teachers, (d) use of effective asthma risk reduction and episode management behaviors, and (e) participation in life activities (quality of life)
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Quest for the Code®
(Starlight Children’s Foundation)
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Ages 7-15
Children with or without asthma
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English
Spanish
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Future State:
French Japanese
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None: web-based
7 minutes
online
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• Limited validity data: improvements in asthma self-efficacy, quality of life and knowledge
• Online interactive learning game
• For auditory learners
• Originated in 2002
• Focuses on asthma management, how to avoid asthmatic triggers, how to use medication devices, and discover early warning signs of an attack.
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5/22/2023