M Urrutia-Pereira1, T To2, Á A Cruz3, D Solé4. 1. PAMPA's Federal University, Brazil; Pediatric Asthma Prevention Program (PIPA), Uruguayana, Brazil. 2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. 3. Center of Excellence in Asthma, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. 4. Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: dirceu.sole@unifesp.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Not only is asthma one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in children under 15 years and one of the main reasons for primary care outpatient visits, it also accounts for 13 million lost days of school annually, which can affect children's learning, integration at school and overall academic achievements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review article highlights the important role of the school in helping children and adolescents to control and manage their asthma through integrated and coordinated actions of health professionals, school staff, family, and the community. RESULTS: We recommended key elements for a multidisciplinary team asthma school programme that can be replicated and implemented especially in developing countries where children and adolescents are in a more disadvantaged environment. CONCLUSION: This multidisciplinary asthma school intervention when demonstrated with efficacy can be applied in the context of the real world, where many children and families who need care the most currently do not receive it.
BACKGROUND: Not only is asthma one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in children under 15 years and one of the main reasons for primary care outpatient visits, it also accounts for 13 million lost days of school annually, which can affect children's learning, integration at school and overall academic achievements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review article highlights the important role of the school in helping children and adolescents to control and manage their asthma through integrated and coordinated actions of health professionals, school staff, family, and the community. RESULTS: We recommended key elements for a multidisciplinary team asthma school programme that can be replicated and implemented especially in developing countries where children and adolescents are in a more disadvantaged environment. CONCLUSION: This multidisciplinary asthma school intervention when demonstrated with efficacy can be applied in the context of the real world, where many children and families who need care the most currently do not receive it.