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Comparative Study
. 2017 Sep-Oct:36:157-162.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2017.06.013. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Urban-Rural Differences in School Nurses' Asthma Training Needs and Access to Asthma Resources

Delesha M Carpenter  1 , Robin Dawson Estrada  2 , Courtney A Roberts  3 , Alice Elio  4 , Melissa Prendergast  5 , Kathy Durbin  6 , Graceann Clyburn Jones  7 , Steve North  8
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Urban-Rural Differences in School Nurses' Asthma Training Needs and Access to Asthma Resources

Delesha M Carpenter et al. J Pediatr Nurs. 2017 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: Few studies have examined school nurses preferences' for asthma training. Our purpose was to: 1) assess school nurses' perceived asthma training needs, 2) describe nurses' access to asthma educational resources, and 3) identify urban-rural differences in training needs and access to resources in southern states.

Design and methods: A convenience sample of school nurses (n=162) from seven counties (two urban and five rural) in North Carolina and South Carolina completed an online, anonymous survey. Chi-square tests were used to examine urban-rural differences.

Results: Although most nurses (64%) had received asthma training within the last five years, urban nurses were more likely to have had asthma training than rural nurses (χ2=10.84, p=0.001). A majority of nurses (87%) indicated they would like to receive additional asthma training. Approximately half (45%) of nurses reported access to age-appropriate asthma education materials, but only 16% reported that their schools implemented asthma education programs. Urban nurses were more likely than rural nurses to have access to asthma education programs (χ2=4.10, p=0.04) and age-appropriate asthma education materials (χ2=8.86, p=0.003).

Conclusions: Few schools are implementing asthma education programs. Rural nurses may be disadvantaged in terms of receiving asthma training and having access to asthma education programs and materials.

Practice implications: Schools are an ideal setting for delivering age-appropriate asthma education. By providing school nurses with access to age-appropriate asthma education resources and additional asthma training, we can help them overcome several of the barriers that impede their ability to deliver asthma care to their students.

Keywords: Asthma; Health education; Medications; School nurse education.

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