Researchers identified significant gaps in elementary and middle school educator awareness regarding inhaler laws and individual healthcare support plans.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Policy Awareness Gap: Over half of teachers surveyed were unaware of state laws allowing students to carry rescue inhalers, despite these laws existing in all 50 states.
- Management Obstacles: Between 30% and 46% of educators did not know whether their students had specific asthma action plans, Section 504 plans, or individualized education programs.
- Collaborative Care Needs: Researchers emphasized that increased communication between school nurses, doctors, and families is essential to help teachers manage chronic healthcare conditions in the classroom.
One-in-twelve children has asthma, making it the most common pediatric chronic condition, yet many teachers lack the training necessary to support these students, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied School Psychology.
The study, from researchers at University of Georgia, analyzed survey data from 574 elementary and middle school teachers in Georgia and Kentucky. While laws allowing students to carry rescue inhalers exist in all 50 states, the study found that over half of the surveyed teachers were unsure if their state had such a law.
“In general, the field prepares teachers to address children’s special educational needs, such as learning disabilities or speech and language challenges,” said Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, corresponding author of the study and a professor in the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education. “We don’t spend as much time as we need to help teachers understand the array of chronic medical conditions that youth bring with them to classrooms.”
Asthma can cause severe breathing difficulties and is associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Frequent school absences due to illness can also negatively impact academic performance and social connection among youth.
There are several individual support plans available to help students, including asthma action plans that detail medications and triggers, Section 504 plans for classroom accommodations, and individualized education programs for specialized instruction. However, the study found that between 30% and 46% of teachers did not know which plan their students had, which makes implementing those plans and managing the condition more difficult.
“The key to helping students is for teachers and student services personnel to know more about the policies that guide the monitoring of chronic healthcare conditions in schools,” said Neuharth-Pritchett. “The more teachers and school personnel are informed, the better they feel about helping the child control their condition.”
The researchers suggested that providing training about chronic conditions, such as workshops covering symptoms and treatments, could help educators assist their students. Neuharth-Pritchett also highlighted the importance of increasing communication between school nurses, school psychologists, doctors, and families to tailor plans to the individual student.
“I’m not asking for teachers to be healthcare experts, but there are school psychologists, school counselors, or school nurses who can be a support to help teachers understand what their role is in medical management of chronic healthcare conditions,” said Neuharth-Pritchett.
