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Ilesanmi O1,2
1Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Medical Rehabilitation, Ile Ife, Nigeria, 2Texila American University, Public Health, East Coast Demerara, Guyana
Background: Asthma is a major public health problem among adolescents with significant functional disability. Inadequate knowledge and poor perceptions of the disease are highly contributory to its impact. Patients' education is vital in addressing this challenge.
Purpose: The study assessed the level of knowledge and perceptions of asthma and the impact of asthma health education programme among a group of the secondary school students in Ile- Ife, Nigeria.
Methods: It is a quasi- experimental design study which used a pre-tested 71- item, purpose designed, self- administered questionnaires to collect information on knowledge and perceptions of the respondents on asthma before and after intervention. Data were collated and analyzed based on descriptive and inferential study design.
Results: The results of this study showed that perceptions and knowledge of asthma were poor among the group. There was a significant difference in the pre- test and post- test knowledge and perceptions scores of asthma of the secondary school students in the intervention group following health education programme intervention. In addition, the results showed that there was a significant change in knowledge and perceptions of asthma overtime for the participants in the intervention group, over a period of 1 week, 3 weeks and over a period of 6 weeks. The results of this study also showed that there were significant associations between post test knowledge and variables of class level and religion. Another finding was that ethnicity showed a significant association between pre test perception score of the participants. It also showed there was a significant association between post test perceptions and class level of the participants.
Conclusion(s): We concluded that health educational intervention has significant positive effect on knowledge and perceptions of asthma among secondary school students in Ile- Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Further researches of this same type over a longer period of 6 months, 12 months and 24 months can be carried out to provide insight into whether a longer health education programme intervention could ensure better or permanent results.
Implications: Asthma education curriculum would be developed for these students to improve their asthma knowledge and perceptions. Also collaborations between the State ministry of Education and ministry of Health would be enhanced in order to establish policies that will encourage instituting well equipped health centre facilities in the schools where students with asthma can be attended to in case of emergencies and regular monitoring of those with symptoms related to asthma.
Keywords: Asthma, Knowledge, Perceptions
Funding acknowledgements: There was no external funding. It was self funded.
Purpose: The study assessed the level of knowledge and perceptions of asthma and the impact of asthma health education programme among a group of the secondary school students in Ile- Ife, Nigeria.
Methods: It is a quasi- experimental design study which used a pre-tested 71- item, purpose designed, self- administered questionnaires to collect information on knowledge and perceptions of the respondents on asthma before and after intervention. Data were collated and analyzed based on descriptive and inferential study design.
Results: The results of this study showed that perceptions and knowledge of asthma were poor among the group. There was a significant difference in the pre- test and post- test knowledge and perceptions scores of asthma of the secondary school students in the intervention group following health education programme intervention. In addition, the results showed that there was a significant change in knowledge and perceptions of asthma overtime for the participants in the intervention group, over a period of 1 week, 3 weeks and over a period of 6 weeks. The results of this study also showed that there were significant associations between post test knowledge and variables of class level and religion. Another finding was that ethnicity showed a significant association between pre test perception score of the participants. It also showed there was a significant association between post test perceptions and class level of the participants.
Conclusion(s): We concluded that health educational intervention has significant positive effect on knowledge and perceptions of asthma among secondary school students in Ile- Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Further researches of this same type over a longer period of 6 months, 12 months and 24 months can be carried out to provide insight into whether a longer health education programme intervention could ensure better or permanent results.
Implications: Asthma education curriculum would be developed for these students to improve their asthma knowledge and perceptions. Also collaborations between the State ministry of Education and ministry of Health would be enhanced in order to establish policies that will encourage instituting well equipped health centre facilities in the schools where students with asthma can be attended to in case of emergencies and regular monitoring of those with symptoms related to asthma.
Keywords: Asthma, Knowledge, Perceptions
Funding acknowledgements: There was no external funding. It was self funded.
Topic: Primary health care; Primary health care; Primary health care
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital
Ethics committee: Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ethics and Research Committee
Ethics number: IRB/IEC/0004553
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
