-- (MARKET WIRE) -- 08/28/06 -- The American School Health Association (ASHA), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), has released a new publication, "Managing Asthma in Schools: What Have We Learned," that provides updated information on developing, implementing, and evaluating school-based asthma programs. The publication is a special edition of the August 2006 issue of the Journal of School Health.

In 2003, 5 million school-aged children and youth were reported to currently have asthma, and 3.1 million had an asthma episode or attack within the previous year. On average, in a classroom of 30 children, about three are likely to have asthma, and it accounts for 14.7 million lost days of school each year. "Schools can improve asthma management by coordinating with community clinicians to ensure students with asthma have access to appropriate care and medicines," said Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH, director of CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health.

The publication features articles, brief reports, and case studies that cover a range of activities, such as asthma education programs for students or staff members, asthma-related health services, and policy changes. It includes an up-to-date list of resources for school-based asthma programs. "Schools can play a critical role in helping students with asthma by adopting 'asthma-friendly' policies and procedures," said Susan Wooley, PhD, CHES, FASHA, executive director of ASHA.

The special issue includes 27 articles written by researchers and asthma program staff across the country who share strategies to improve students' asthma control. Authors also share challenges they have faced, pitfalls to avoid, and important lessons learned.

Five key lessons for successful school-based asthma programs emerged from the research and case study findings:

--  Establish strong links with asthma care clinicians to ensure
    appropriate and ongoing medical care.

--  Target students who are the most affected by asthma at school to
    identify and intervene with those in greatest need.

--  Get administrative buy-in and build a team of enthusiastic people,
    including a full-time school nurse, to support the program.

--  Use a coordinated multi-component and collaborative approach that
    includes school nursing services, asthma education for students and
    professional development for school staff.

--  Support evaluation of school-based programs and use adequate and
    appropriate outcome measures.
    

"Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled," said James Kiley, PhD, Director of NHLBI's Division of Lung Diseases. "The articles in this special issue share many innovative and promising strategies for building on the lessons we have learned. We hope this special issue will inspire the next generation of school-based programs to become even better, so we can reach our goal of helping students with asthma participate fully in all school activities."

The special issue can be downloaded from the American School Health Association at www.ashaweb.org/journal_schoolhealth.html or purchased from Blackwell Publishing at www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/josh/76/6.

For more information about managing asthma at school, go to www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/healthtopics/asthma or www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/.

The American School Health Association is a professional membership organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children and youth through coordinated school health programs as a foundation for school success. Visit www.ashaweb.org for more information.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health seeks to prevent the most serious health risk behaviors among children, adolescents and young adults. Visit www.cdc.gov/dash for more information.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a component of the National Institutes of Health, plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. NHLBI also administers the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and, to date, has published more than 6,000 books, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects.

Contact:
American School Health Association
Media Relations:
Tom Reed
Tel: 330-678-1601