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BAHRAINI SCHOOL TEACHERS' KNOWLEDGE OF ASTHMA |
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| Corresponding Author: Faisal A. Latif Alnasir FPC, FRCGP, MICGP, PhD P.O. Box 22979, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain E-mail: faisal@agu.edu.bh Residence: +973 729408 Facsimile: +973 230730 Mobile: +973 9464048 Abstract Background and Objectives: Bronchial asthma is a common and life-threatening problem affecting school children and adolescents. School teachers must be aware of this condition to educate their students, and to provide assistance to manage such attacks. This study is designed to assess the asthma knowledge of school teachers, and to determine if such knowledge is influenced by other variables. Methods: From randomly selected schools representing all schools in Bahrain, 1140 teachers were surveyed. A pre-designed self-administered questionnaire was delivered to all teachers. It was designed to collect information related to asthma knowledge and other variables. Results: Eighty nine percent returned the questionnaire. The study showed that Bahraini school teachers have only average or poor knowledge of asthma presentation and management. Teachers' knowledge was 82 percent for the complaint of shortness of breath as a presenting factor in asthma, and 81.7 percent for cough. Only 66.5 percent knew that wheezing after physical exertion is a strong indicator of asthma. Women and single teachers were better informed than others. Conclusion: Health care reform requires an interdisciplinary approach from various organizations, particularly the schools. It is vital that school teachers' health knowledge be improved and continuously updated that it can be reflected in students' attitudes. Key words: Asthma; school teachers' knowledge; benefits |
Introduction Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that affects a high percentage of adolescents resulting in a significant restriction of daily activities, and to school absenteeism [1]. Managing asthmatic children in school, if dealt with correctly would help reduce absenteeism and improve participation in school activities" [2]. An Australian study confirmed that asthma is a common cause of quality of life impairment among year eight high school students [3]. The number of school students with asthma has recently increased [4]. Asthma is the most common chronic medical condition that school teachers may encounter among their students; however their role adopted towards this condition has only recently been explored [5]. In Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence rate of asthmatics ranged between 8 percent and 9.5 percent [6]. Elsewhere the number of children with asthma as identified by teachers was 7.8 percent, which suggests that asthma may be unrecognized [7]. It has been reported that although teachers are known to be concerned about asthmatic students, and are often called upon to manage asthma at school, they may have little knowledge and understanding of the condition [7,8]. The results of a survey carried out with 98 primary school teachers in inner London schools showed that teachers had a limited understanding of asthma and its management [9]. When studying asthma health education in Wessex, England, it was found that none of the school health services had any planned education about asthma for teachers [10]. Clearly, schools and the teachers need to receive more information about asthma, both to enable them to better cope with their asthmatic students, and to allay the anxieties of teachers. The increasing number of children with asthma in schools necessitates an examination of the awareness of teachers of this condition. Consequently the preparedness of teachers in the care and management of children with asthma is of prime importance [11]. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge of asthma presentation in school children among teachers in Bahrain. |
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