<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0016_s_006_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Poorly developed teachers’ competences for managing children’s allergies can pose a significant problem for the wellbeing of children in the preschool and school environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes and theoretical understanding of the management of allergic reactions in children among future teachers.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0016_s_007_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 572 future teachers participated in the study, 56% of whom were in the 1st year of undergraduate educational programmes, while 44% were in the 4th year. The participants answered the Teachers’ Health Competences Development – Allergy Questionnaire.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0016_s_008_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The future teachers showed positive attitudes towards learning more about different child health issues. There was an average understanding of managing allergic reactions in children (59.4%; SD=16.1% success), with no statistically significant difference regarding the duration of education, science background or the students’ self-allergy. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in achievement scores between future teachers in different educational programmes (<italic>F</italic>(3,568)=6.4, <italic>p</italic>≤.000). A subgroup of future teachers exposed to basic allergy education in the 1<sup>st</sup> year and tested again in the 4<sup>th</sup> year showed significantly better knowledge (<italic>Mann</italic>-<italic>Whitney</italic><italic>U</italic>=83.0; <italic>p</italic>=.008).</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0016_s_009_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The duration of future education, science background and self-allergy did not influence the level of knowledge regarding the management of allergic reactions in children. A basic educational programme in allergy management had a positive effect on future teachers’ knowledge of managing allergic reactions in children. Our study indicates that all future teachers should be included in specific educational programmes in order to develop adequate health competences.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionPoorly developed teachers’ competences for managing children’s allergies can pose a significant problem for the wellbeing of children in the preschool and school environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes and theoretical understanding of the management of allergic reactions in children among future teachers.MethodsA total of 572 future teachers participated in the study, 56% of whom were in the 1st year of undergraduate educational programmes, while 44% were in the 4th year. The participants answered the Teachers’ Health Competences Development – Allergy Questionnaire.ResultsThe future teachers showed positive attitudes towards learning more about different child health issues. There was an average understanding of managing allergic reactions in children (59.4%; SD=16.1% success), with no statistically significant difference regarding the duration of education, science background or the students’ self-allergy. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in achievement scores between future teachers in different educational programmes (F(3,568)=6.4, p≤.000). A subgroup of future teachers exposed to basic allergy education in the 1st year and tested again in the 4th year showed significantly better knowledge (Mann-WhitneyU=83.0; p=.008).ConclusionThe duration of future education, science background and self-allergy did not influence the level of knowledge regarding the management of allergic reactions in children. A basic educational programme in allergy management had a positive effect on future teachers’ knowledge of managing allergic reactions in children. Our study indicates that all future teachers should be included in specific educational programmes in order to develop adequate health competences.

Future teachers’ attitudes and knowledge regarding the management of the potential students’ life-threatening allergic reactions in Slovenian schools

Department of Biology, Chemistry and Home Economics

University Medical Centre Ljubljana, University Children’s Hospital

Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Odnos prihodnjih učiteljev do ukrepanja ob potencialno življenje ogrožajočih alergijskih reakcijah učencev v Slovenskih šolah in znanje prihodnjih učiteljev o tem

IntroductionPoorly developed teachers’ competences for managing children’s allergies can pose a significant problem for the wellbeing of children in the...

Future teachers’ attitudes and knowledge regarding the management of the potential students’ life-threatening allergic reactions in Slovenian schools

Article Category: Original scientific article

Pubblicato online: 21 giu 2018

Pagine: 124 - 132

Ricevuto: 21 lug 2017

Accettato: 18 apr 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0016

Parole chiave
allergic children, allergy and anaphylaxis management, attitude, basic knowledge, future teachers

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Future teachers’ attitudes and knowledge regarding the management of the potential students’ life-threatening allergic reactions in Slovenian schools

Article Category: Original scientific article

Pubblicato online: 21 giu 2018

Pagine: 124 - 132

Ricevuto: 21 lug 2017

Accettato: 18 apr 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0016

Parole chiaveallergic children, allergy and anaphylaxis management, attitude, basic knowledge, future teachers

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Parole chiave
allergic children, allergy and anaphylaxis management, attitude, basic knowledge, future teachers