Recorded presentation

Joan Edelstein, MSN, DrPH, RN¹, Adam Davis, MPH, MA², Joyce Ycasas, MPH², Beryl Shaw, RN², and Ira Tager, MD MPH³. (1) School Nurse, Asthma Specialist, Oakland Unified School District, 393 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-834-3672, joanmed@earthlink.net, (2) American Lung Association of the East Bay, 295 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) Center for Children's Environmental Health Research, University of California, Berkeley, 2150 Shattuck Ave, Suite 600, Berkeley, CA 94720

Surveys show that 1 out of 6 students in Oakland public schools have current asthma symptoms. This number is not unusual for urban school districts. School-based asthma education at the elementary school level is well established at many school districts as a result of the existence of a well-evaluated curriculum for this age group. However, urban adolescents are a unique demographic group for which no suitable school-based asthma curriculum exists. A 4-session curriculum geared for urban teenagers was developed over a 2-year period with significant input by local high school students. The four sessions take place during lunch hour over the course of two weeks. The curriclum will be evaluated on knowledge gained, day and night time symptoms, activity limitation, and sleep disturbance, using self-completed questionnaires and instructor assessment. School absences for the entire year will be obtained from the school district database for students who completed the program, students with asthma who did not complete the program, and students who do not have asthma. First year results will be available by Fall of 2004.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe school-based public health approaches for addressing asthma
• Identify 5 factors that will ensure attendance at elective educational sessions
• Articulate the primary learning objectives for students with asthma
• Identify the unique challenges when working with teenagers with asthma

Keywords: Asthma, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation