What is the current level of asthma knowledge in elementary, middle, and high school teachers?

摘要

This study examined teacher asthma knowledge based on three areas including (a) the level of teacher asthma knowledge in the Maury County Public School System, (b) the level of teacher asthma knowledge based on five demographic factors, and (c) the level of teacher asthma knowledge in the Maury County Public School System compared with teacher asthma knowledge in the Georgia Public School System. There were a total of 218 surveys submitted online. The overall mean score of correctness for asthma knowledge in the Maury County Public School System is 78% (Likert 3.90). This was above the asthma knowledge threshold for efficacy of 70% (Likert 3.50). The asthma knowledge in each of five demographic groups was assessed based on (a) gender, (b) asthma status, (c) chronic illness status, (d) educational attainment, and (d) school level. In this analysis, only asthma status demonstrated statistical significance where teachers with asthma scored higher (M = 4.09) in their understanding of asthma than teachers without asthma (M = 3.87). When comparing the level of teacher asthma knowledge in the Maury County Public School System with teachers in the Georgia Public School System, participants scored statistically different on two items. On the item, "asthma episodes usually occur without warning", teachers with a chronic illness in the Maury County Public School System scored statistically lower (z score = -2.03732) than similar teachers in the Georgia Public School System (z score = -0.28890). On the item, "people can outgrow their asthma", based on school level, teachers in the Maury County Public School System scored statistically lower (z score = -2.02651) than teachers in the Georgia Public School System (z score = -0.257274). It is recommended public school systems regularly evaluate teacher asthma knowledge based on mean scores of correctness to ensure teachers are prepared to assist students with asthma and are knowledgeable regarding the presence of asthma triggers in the school environment.