Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Anne Meng.
This article has described symptom perception and its relation to asthma management. Underestimation of airway obstruction in persons with asthma is a common and serious problem that is linked to fatalities in persons with asthma. Strategies to identify and manage the poor perceiver have been suggested.
School-age children have learning needs unique to their psychosocial and cognitive developmental stage. Teaching that requires the learner to master abstract concepts is particularly challenging. This article describes how the idea for an interactive doll/model evolved among a group of health care professionals at a day camp for children with asthma. How this group of educators designed, developed, and field-tested the model in clinic and classroom environments are presented and discussed. Strategies related to a class on key concepts of asthma education illustrate the various ways the model can be used to facilitate learning. Field testing has shown that this teaching aid enhances knowledge retention and has a high degree of learner satisfaction.
Spirometry has become the most widely used assessment of pulmonary function for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This article reviews the indications for spirometry in persons who have asthma, the parameters measured, acceptable testing techniques, acceptability, quality assurance criteria, and basic interpretation of results in evaluating the person who has asthma. Understanding basic spirometry is an invaluable aid to the nurse and nurse practitioner who provide care to children and adults who have asthma.
PURPOSE: To learn how children with asthma and their parents make treatment-related decisions. DATA SOURCES: Verbatim transcripts of focus group interviews of 28 school age children with asthma and their parents. Children had attended an educationally based asthma camp program. Questions related to choices parents and children made regarding implementation of their asthma treatment plans both, at home and at school. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and children made many non-adherence decisions especially with respect to preventive aspects of the treatment plan. Symptoms were the driving force for children's decisions. Parents and children had concerns about implementing the management plan at school. Parents and children may not perceive asthma treatment options as true choices, thus affecting motivation for adherence. IMPLICATIONS: Practitioners need to form partnerships with parents and children in developing treatment goals. Goals should focus on achievement of normal daily activities. Asthma education needs to be concrete and include school personnel. Practitioners need to give families positive, informational feedback.