1. Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Health Care Providers
- Author
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National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, Roberts, James R., and McCurdy, Leyla Erk
- Abstract
These guidelines are the product of a new Pediatric Asthma Initiative aimed at integrating environmental management of asthma into pediatric health care. This document outlines competencies in environmental health relevant to pediatric asthma that should be mastered by primary health care providers, and outlines the environmental interventions that should be communicated to patients. These environmental management guidelines were developed for pediatricians, family physicians, internists, pediatric nurse practitioners, pediatric nurses, and physician assistants. In addition, these guidelines should be integrated into respiratory therapists' and licensed case/care (LICSW) management professionals' education and training. The guidelines contain three components: (1) Competencies: An outline of the knowledge and skills that health care providers and health professional students should master and demonstrate in order to incorporate management of environmental asthma triggers into pediatric practice; (2) Environmental History Form: A quick, easy, user-friendly document that can be utilized as an intake tool by the health care provider to help determine pediatric patients' environmental asthma triggers; and (3) Environmental Intervention Guidelines: Follow-up questions and intervention solutions to environmental asthma triggers. Although environmental factors may play a role in the prevalence of asthma in the population, these guidelines are not directed at the primary prevention of pediatric asthma on a general scale. They are aimed instead at educating health care professionals on how to advise families about environmental interventions that can reduce or eliminate triggers for children who are already diagnosed with asthma. These guidelines are intended to be used with children (0-18 years) already diagnosed with asthma. Referral to a specialist is advised if the diagnosis of asthma is in doubt. Sources of guidelines for making the diagnosis of asthma include the NAEPP (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program) Guidelines and resources from Kaiser Permanente, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Sources of Additional Information are appended.
- Published
- 2005