ROLE OF NURSING PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATING A CHILD WITH ASTHMA

Uvod: Astma je najčešća kronična bolest u djece. Karakterizirana je reverzibilnom opstrukcijom dišnih puteva i povećanom bronhalnom hiperaktivnošću koje su uzrokovane kroničnom upalom, potaknute čimbenicima iz okoliša. Glavni simptomi su sipnja, kašalj, otežano disanje i stezanje u prsima. U liječenju astme kod djece primjenjuju se međunarodno prihvaćene GINA smjernice. Astma se ne može izliječiti ali se može staviti pod kontrolu. Kontrolom bolesti postiže se stanje u kojem dijete uz minimalnu terapiju nema simptome. Kad astma nije kontrolirana dolazi do egzacerbacije i pojave simptoma koji mogu biti blagi do životno ugrožavajući. U liječenju se koriste lijekovi koji kontroliraju upalu i/ili simptomatski lijekovi. Za postizanje kontrole bolesti važan je individualni pristup, redovite kontrole i edukacija. Medicinska sestra ima vrlo važnu ulogu u edukaciji djece koja se može provoditi individualno ili grupno kroz „Astma školu“. Cilj: Ispitati razliku između individualnog i grupnog načina edukacije, te razlike u usvojenom znanju prema dobi i spolu djece. Rezultati: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 83 ispitanika u dobi od 5-18 godina oba spola koji boluju od astme. Podaci su prikupljeni ispunjavanjem ankete sastavljenom od 20 pitanja. Istraživanje je provedeno prilikom kontrolnog pregleda djece u specijalističkoj Pulmološkoj i Alergološkoj ambulanti u Dječjoj bolnici Srebrnjak u Zagrebu. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da nema značajne razlike u kontroli bolesti astme prema spolu i dobi kad je primijenjena individualna i kad je primijenjena grupna edukacija. Zaključak: Povećanjem broja edukacija kao i suvremeniji pristup edukaciji pomoću računalne tehnologije, putem online predavanja, radionica ili korištenjem tzv. ozbiljnih igara, mogla bi se povećati kvaliteta i interes za edukaciju.Introduction: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. It is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and increased bronchial hyperactivity caused by chronic inflammation, triggered by environmental factors. The main symptoms are wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest. In the treatment of asthma in children, the internationally accepted GINA guidelines are applied. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be brought under control. Disease control achieves a state in which the child has no symptoms with minimal therapy. When asthma is not controlled, there is an exacerbation and the appearance of symptoms that can be mild to life-threatening. Medicines that control inflammation and/or symptomatic drugs are used in the treatment. Individual approach, regular check-ups and education are important to achieve disease control. The nurse has a very important role in the education of children, which can be carried out individually or in groups through the "Asthma School". Objective: To examine the difference between individual and group education, and differences in the acquisition of knowledge according to the age and gender of children. Results: 83 respondents aged 5-18 of both sexes who suffer from asthma participated in the research. The data was collected by completing a survey consisting of 20 questions. The research was conducted during the control examination of children in the specialist Pulmonology and Allergology Outpatient Clinic at the Srebrnjak Children's Hospital in Zagreb. The obtained results show that there are no significant differences in the control of asthma according to gender and age when individual and when group education was applied. Conclusion: By increasing the number of educations as well as a more modern approach to education using computer technologies through online lectures, workshops or using the so-called serious games, could increase the quality and interest in education and contribute to the difference in knowledge acquisition