Childhood asthma knowledge among first year nursing students in three European cities.

BACKGROUND: There are no available studies that assess and compare knowledge of childhood asthma among subjects living in different European countries. The objective of this study was to determine knowledge of childhood asthma among first year nursing students during the first week of their training in three European countries. The participants' sources of information and other factors that might influence their asthma knowledge score (AKS) were also evaluated. METHODS: Cross-sectional design using a modified version of a previously validated questionnaire. The study was undertaken in 261 students in Cartagena (Spain), 202 in Manchester (UK) and 94 in Cologne (Germany). RESULTS: AKS (maximum score, 27) was significantly higher in students from Manchester (18.3 +/- 2.6) than in those from Cartagena (15.9 +/- 3.1) and Cologne (15.1 +/- 3.6). In all three cities, more than 70 % of the students answered 10 out of the 27 questions correctly. Knowledge of asthma relievers or preventers was very limited. AKS showed a positive but marginal correlation with student age (r = 0.11, p = 0.07). Only knowledge gained from personal experience was significantly associated (r = 0.27, p < 0.001) with AKS. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable new information about the variations, sources and factors that influence knowledge of asthma among educated individuals living in three European countries. The better AKS of Manchester students might be due to the higher prevalence of asthma in the UK.

Childhood asthma knowledge among first year nursing students in three european cities

Background: There are no available studies that assess and compare knowledge of childhood asthma among subjects living in different European countries. The objective of this study was to determine knowledge of childhood asthma among first year nursing students during the first week of their training in three European countries. The participants' sources of information and other factors that might influence their asthma knowledge score (AKS) were also evaluated. Methods: Cross-sectional design using a modified version of a previously validated questionnaire. The study was undertaken in 261 students in Cartagena (Spain), 202 in Manchester (UK) and 94 in Cologne (Germany). Results: AKS (maximum score, 27) was significantly higher in students from Manchester (18.3 +/­2.6) than in those from Cartagena (15.9 +/­3.1) and Cologne (15.1 +/­3.6). In all three cities, more than 70 % of the students answered 10 out of the 27 questions correctly. Knowledge of asthma relievers or preventers was very limited. AKS showed a positive but marginal correlation with student age (r = 0.11, p = 0.07). Only knowledge gained from personal experience was significantly associated (r = 0.27, p < 0.001) with AKS. Conclusions: This study provides valuable new information about the variations, sources and factors that influence knowledge of asthma among educated individuals living in three European countries. The better AKS of Manchester students might be due to the higher prevalence of asthma in the UK (AU)

Información preliminar: No se dispone de estudios que hayan evaluado y comparado el conocimiento del asma infantil entre sujetos residentes en distintas ciudades europeas. El objetivo de este estudio era determinar el conocimiento del asma infantil entre estudiantes de primer curso de enfermería durante la primera semana de su formación en tres ciudades europeas. También se evaluaron las fuentes de información de los participantes y otros factores que podrían haber influido en su puntuación de conocimiento del asma (PCA). Métodos: Diseño transversal utilizando un cuestionario modificado validado previamente. El estudio se llevó a cabo con 261 estudiantes de Cartagena (España), 202 de Manchester (RU) y 94 de Colonia (Alemania). Resultados: La PCA (puntuación máxima, 27) fue significativamente mejor en los estudiantes de Manchester (18,3 +/-2,6) que en los de Cartagena (15,9 +/-3,1) o Colonia (15,1 +/-3,6). Más del 70 por ciento de los estudiantes de las tres ciudades respondieron correctamente a 10 de las 27 preguntas. Los conocimientos sobre los fármacos para paliar o prevenir el asma eran muy limitados. La PCA reveló una correlación positiva pero débil con la edad de los estudiantes (r = 0,11, p = 0,07). Sólo se asociaron significativamente a la PCA los conocimientos adquiridos a partir de la experiencia personal (r = 0,27, p < 0,001). Conclusiones: Este estudio proporciona nueva información de valor sobre las variaciones, las fuentes y los factores que influyen en el conocimiento del asma entre sujetos con estudios residentes en tres países europeos. La mayor prevalencia del asma en el Reino Unido podría justificar la mejor PCA de los estudiantes de Manchester (AU)

Developing a unified language for children's nurses, children and their families in the United Kingdom.

This paper presents a taxonomy of Infant, Child and Adolescent (ICA) nursing diagnoses and clinical outcomes that has been developed with the co-operation of nurses caring for children in the United Kingdom. Three focus group interviews were conducted in one acute care NHS trust in London (referred to as the host trust in this paper) in 1998/99, in which participants were asked to consider nursing and family factors relevant for identifying and providing care. A total of 28 ICA diagnoses, including definitions, defining characteristics and outcomes, were identified for clinical testing and included in the ICA taxonomy. The ICA diagnostic labels and outcomes for care were further tested for their relevance for clinical practice in a Delphi Survey carried out in 1999 and their use in clinical practice began in 1999. This research augments the findings from an initial Delphi survey carried out in 1993 and case study research in 1996. The previous research initiated the development of a unified language for children's nurses, children and their families, to aid communication and decision-making. Implications of this and future research for clinical practice, nationally and internationally, are also discussed.