Clinical pearlsSupporting successful asthma management in schools: The role of asthma care providers
Section snippets
What can be done?
Several programs and resources exist in many countries that suggest similar goals for creating asthma-friendly and supportive schools.4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 These goals commonly include the following:
- 1.
Identify and track all students with asthma
- 2.
Assure immediate access to medications as prescribed
- 3.
Use an individualized asthma action plan for all students with asthma
- 4.
Encourage full participation in school-related activities, including physical activity
- 5.
Use standard emergency protocols for worsening asthma
- 6.
Role of asthma care providers
Asthma care providers play a vital role in preparing and supporting children and youth with asthma and their families, helping them attain successful asthma control and management at school. Table I serves as a guide and checklist for asthma health care providers to ensure that the children and youth they follow with asthma are prepared to handle the day-to-day management issues at school and to take full advantage of all the opportunities afforded to them at school. The preparedness and
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Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: L. Cicutto receives grant support from the Ontario Ministry of Health, AllerGen National Centre of Excellence, Anaphylaxis Canada, and the Ontario Lung Association; is a board member of the Lung Association, Colorado; and is the chair of the school and child care workgroup for the Colorado State Asthma Plan.