The use of peer teaching and dramatic play to increase asthma awareness in African American children

摘要

Asthma and environmental asthma triggers continue to affect the quality of life of children, who are more affected by the disease than adults. This is especially true for African American children. The purpose of this study is to use peer teaching and dramatic play to increase asthma awareness in African American children, ages 5-17 years. A non-experimental design was used for this study. A 3-week intervention was implemented in three groups of children: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Designated peer leaders were tasked to take key points from the facilitated discussion about asthma and environmental asthma triggers and to create original skits, games, and other types of dramatic play to convey the key messages to the younger groups, and eventually their parents and the church community. As a result of the intervention, statistically significant increases in asthma awareness were demonstrated. Findings from this study suggest that to break the cycle of environmental health disparities in children who are vulnerable as a result of social and economic disadvantage, health practitioners and scientists must be culturally competent and seek to use innovative approaches to raise awareness in targeted communities.