Asthma call back survey results: a need for increase of asthma actions plans and allowance to carry medication

Abstract

Purpose of Research: Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Goals for asthma management include symptom control, ability to maintain a normal activity level, and minimizing adverse events.

Research Question: Our objective is to analyze the amount of children with asthma that are permitted to carry medications at school and without an asthma action plan.

Methods: In this study we analyzed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Asthma Call Back Survey to assess the prevalence of children in school allowed to carry medication and with asthma action plans. Using sampling weights provided, we estimated population prevalence by age group and urbanicity.

Results: Results showed that, overall, 34.8% of students reported that they were not allowed to carry asthma medications in school. Specifically, nearly 51% of children ages 5 - 9 and 33% of children ages 10-14 were reported not to be allowed to carry medications at school (Figure 2). Further, 58.2% of children did not have a written asthma action plan. Reported urbanity was not significantly associated with access to medication at school (P=.46) or having an asthma action plan (P=.57).

Conclusions: In our study, more than one-third of students were not permitted to carry asthma medications and nearly three-fifths did not have a written asthma action plan. Osteopathic Principles and Practices should guide asthma management. Therefore, we recommend partnerships between schools, healthcare students, and physicians to increase access to asthma action plans and medication in schools.