Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
PLoS One. 2024 Sep 6;19(9):e0304123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304123. eCollection 2024.
Children in boarding schools spend most of their time without their parents or caregivers, causing concerns about the suitability of such schools for children with asthma. This study assessed individuals' opinions regarding the suitability of boarding secondary schools for children with asthma.
A qualitative design was adopted for this study using a focus group discussion held on a social media platform (WhatsApp®) of the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG), The group comprised 150 registered members. The study was guided by a structured protocol and based on a vignette comprising three questions. Data were analysed via thematic analysis using framework principles.
Out of the 150 eligible members, there were responses from only 19 participants. Majority of the respondents were aged ≤ 30 years (n = 17, 89.5%). The three main themes generated from the thematic analysis include the appropriateness of boarding schools for children with asthma; facilities necessary for boarding schools to cater to children with asthma; and outright rejection of children with asthma by boarding schools. Respondents conceptualised the appropriateness of boarding schools for students with asthma in six distinct sub-themes: asthma severity and extent of control, child's self-efficacy and assertiveness, child equipped with tools (knowledge, inhalers, and asthma control diary), school awareness, facilities, and active support, availability of a guardian, and the knowledge and perception of teachers and schoolmates about asthma. The sub-themes associated with the themes were presented, alongside exemplar quotes from respondents. The majority of the respondents (61.5%) were in support of allowing children with asthma attend boarding schools but with some caveats such as without liability to the school, if facilities are unavailable.
Children's age, autonomy, asthma management status, and the school's readiness were identified as important considerations for the safe attendance of children with asthma at boarding schools.
寄宿学校的孩子大部分时间都没有父母或照顾者陪伴，这引起了人们对这些学校是否适合哮喘儿童的关注。本研究评估了人们对寄宿制中学是否适合哮喘儿童的看法。
本研究采用定性设计，在哮喘意识和关怀小组（AACG）的社交媒体平台（WhatsApp®）上进行焦点小组讨论。该小组由 150 名注册成员组成。研究遵循结构化方案，并基于包含三个问题的情景描述。使用框架原则进行数据分析。
在 150 名符合条件的成员中，只有 19 名参与者做出了回应。大多数受访者年龄在≤30 岁（n=17，89.5%）。主题分析生成了三个主要主题，包括寄宿学校对哮喘儿童的适宜性；寄宿学校为照顾哮喘儿童所需的设施；以及寄宿学校对哮喘儿童的完全拒绝。受访者从六个不同的子主题概念化了寄宿学校对哮喘学生的适宜性：哮喘的严重程度和控制程度、孩子的自我效能感和自信、孩子配备了工具（知识、吸入器和哮喘控制日记）、学校意识、设施和积极支持、监护人的可用性，以及教师和同学对哮喘的知识和看法。呈现了与主题相关的子主题，并附有受访者的典型引述。大多数受访者（61.5%）支持允许哮喘儿童上寄宿学校，但有一些条件，例如如果没有设施，学校不应承担责任。
儿童的年龄、自主性、哮喘管理状况以及学校的准备情况被确定为哮喘儿童安全就读寄宿学校的重要考虑因素。
