A Model of Camp Program for Childhood Asthma

Lim, Jeeyoun; Choung, Ji Tae

Abstract

PURPOSE
Asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality have been increasing in the whole world in recent years, especially among children. The estimated prevalence of asthma among children in the United States has been increased by almost 40% from 1981 to 1988, making asthma a predominant cause of morbidity in childhood. Recognition of the continued significant social and economic impact of asthma has led the medical community to consider new management strategies emphasizing patient education. Educating asthmatic children about the disease can have demonstrable long-term benefits, including improved independence and compliance as well as better control of asthma symptoms. The specialized asthma summer camps were developed in the late 1960s to provide pleasant camping experiences for the children perceived to be too ill to participate in regular camps. Despite the usefulness and the need of the asthma camp programs, there are a few asthma camp programs developed in Korea.
METHODS
As an effort to develop the Korean camp programs for childhood asthma, this study proposes a model of 4-days-camp program for 20 patients who diagnosed as asthma.
RESULTS
This successful exercise the model will achieve better control of childhood asthma by leading the patients to participate actively in their asthma treatment.
CONCLUSION
Further studies are needed to investigate empirically the positive effects of asthma education programs in camp settings in terms of asthma exacerbations and school day absences due to asthma.