Book Description

"Many parents of children diagnosed with asthma fail to understand the multitude of complexities in controlling and preventing asthma exacerbations, resulting in increased mortality, morbidity, and health care cost. National and international guidelines state that the aim of an asthma self-management program is to achieve and maintain asthma control (National Asthma Education Prevention Program [NAEPP], 2007). The purpose of an evidence-based practice project referred to as the Parent Asthma Education Program was to educate parents of children, ages 5 to 12 diagnosed with moderate and severe persistent asthma and using the Medicaid system to improve the child's quality of life and functional of the family and decreased unscheduled health care utilization. The Parent Asthma Education Program was based on the National Asthma Education Prevention Program, Expert Panel Report-3 Guidelines. The Children's Health Survey for Asthma (CHSA), a condition-specific, self-reported, functional validated health measure for parents/caregivers of children five to 12 years of age with chronic asthma was administered before and after the educational program. The project showed a decrease in unscheduled medical utilization after parents attended the asthma education program. The results of this project demonstrated asthma education targeting parent specific objectives increased quality of life, increased the capacity to function in normal social roles, and decreased health care costs." -- Abstract.