Knowledge and attitudes of teachers on children with asthma

Introduction: The right management of asthma in the school background is an important issue in order for the disease to make good progress. Aims: To find out the situation in schools in Tenerife, to identify the information teachers have about asthma in children, the origin of the information, experience, attitudes and the existence of working protocols in school centres, and educational needs. Individuals and methods: 284 teachers of 35 public, private and state financed schools. A survey with 11 questions was performed. Results: A total of 84% of the teachers were informed about the asthmatic pupils in class, of which. 27% attended to an asthma crisis during school hours. 64% admitted they did not know the main steps to control a seizure, and a 10% of this group had to attend to at least one (p < 0.001). There were 58% who could help the child to administer the aerosol, but did not know the first steps on how to control a seizure, versus a 42%, who could not help and did not know those steps (p < 0.001). Almost all (95%) expressed their intention to get such information. Conclusions: The information and knowledge teachers have is limited and not recorded. The design of a program on educational intervention, as well as individualized information to teachers is needed, and must be suitable for those needs. The symptoms, first steps to stop a seizure and aerosol therapy technique should be considered as fundamental training. (C) 2009 Asociacion Espanola de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.