ASTHMA SCHOOL - BREATHING SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
Jurković Petrušić J1, Petrušić B2, Obersnel B1
1Private Pediatric Practice, Rijeka, Croatia
2 Diagnostic Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and T.B.C., Rijeka, Croatia
Objective: In spite of pharmacological innovations no satisfactory reduction in
morbidity as well as mortality has been achieved. Partly it is because of insufficient
patients, knowledge about desease.
Methods: Both, children and their parents, are taught by the professionals how
to correctly apply therapy, how to use pick flow metre, how to breathe
properly. Children learn all about their disease through the play and didactic aids.
Results: Up till now, 35 children and 70 their parents have been treated. In the
final test parents who have completed the course claimed greater self-confidence and no longer felt
helpless. Their feelings of fear and panic had been greatly reduced and
they were far more capable of helping their children. They have become
aware of necessity for long-term treatment. They have also learnt the
importance of preventive measures.
Conclusion: With more knowledge of the disease, they are better able to control the
situations which occur and can react quickly, thus reducing the number of
severe attacs, as well as the frequency and the duration of
hospitalisations and the number of sick-days. A good knowledge of the
disease can transform a worried and anxious parent into a competent and
confident parent able to help in the control of a disease such as Asthma.