Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Context:
Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in
Portugal (more than 600 000 asthmatics in 2001).
National Asthma Control Program
National priority in terms of Public Health.
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
Partnership:
 GINA Movement (Global Initiative for Asthma)
Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical
Immunology
Portuguese Society of Pneumology
Portuguese Asthmatics Association.
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Aim:
To
increase the
asthmatics children’s
participation in the physical education classes in their
schools
Objectives: Our project goal is to empower teachers in
their relation with the asthmatic children. Physical
activity is the centre of our endeavour. This could:
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
•Promote asthmatic children participation in school’s
activities.
•Increase the asthmatic children self-esteem.
•Improve the asthmatic children self-image.
•Teacher’s sensitisation to develop adequate exercises to
every child (asthmatics and not asthmatics).
•Improve their physical performance
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Effectiveness (1)
Physical training can improve cardiopulmonary
fitness without changing lung function.
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
Physical activity can reduce risk behaviours such as
use of tobacco, alcoholism, unhealthy alimentation or
violence. It improves psychological well-been; reduce
stress and feelings of depression
School heath promotion interventions can be
effective in transmitting knowledge, developing
skills, and supporting positive health choices.
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Effectiveness (2)
Evidence indicates greatest effectiveness where
programs are comprehensive and holistic, linking the
school with agencies and sectors dealing with health
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
It has been estimated that the implementation of a
self-management program in 20 patients prevents 1
hospitalization, and successful completion of such a
program by 8 patients prevents 1 emergency
department visit
Adequate attention needs to be given to teacher
training for health promotion
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Strategies of Intervention and Process (1)
 Partnership between the General Health
Directorate, the ENSP (National Public Health
School of Lisbon), the Lisbon Health
Department and the PNHPS
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 European Commission “Programme of
Community Action in the Field of Public Heath”
(PE-CONS 3627/02).
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
Strategies of Intervention and Process (2)
 Elaboration of a “Handbook for Physical
Education’s teachers”
 Using the PNHPS’s resources, each teacher will
receive the handbook and have access to a continuum
educational program by the Health Promotion
Technicians from the Local Supportive Teams
 Dissemination through the health professionals
using the Lisbon Health Department resources.
 Parents sensitisation through parent’s associations
 Students sensitisation through student’s associations
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Pilot project (First year)
 Elaboration of the “Handbook for Physical
Education’s teachers”
 Dissemination through the health professionals
 Educational program for teachers
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 Sensitisation of parents
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
Pilot project (2nd and 3rd year)
 Choose randomly 20 schools which will receive
our intervention project and 20 other which will
work as control schools.
 The case schools and the control schools will be
paired sample regarding to children’s age, socioeconomic status and urban or rural area as a way to
control confounders’ variables.
 Focus on the Physical Education Teachers,
parents, and health professionals linked to the
schools.
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Evaluation of strategies
 The impact of the “Handbook for Physical
Education’s teachers
 Teacher’s messages were reaching the
students
 Information is properly and effectively
transmitted to the health professionals
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 The participation of children’s parents
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Evaluation of results
 Presences of the asthmatics students in physical
education classes
 The number of hospitalization or emergency
department visit from each asthmatic children
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 The evaluation of the degree of satisfaction
through the questionnaire “Questionário de
qualidade de vida na asma” (“Asthma’s Quality of
Life Questionnaire”)
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Project’s marketing (1)
 Results internally communicated to the General
Health Directorate, to the PNHPS Coordinator, the
Lisbon Health Department Coordinator and the
ENSP (National Public Health School), and to all the
stakeholders involved.
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 Externally publication of a paper in a scientific
publication and in an Internet page.
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Project’s marketing (2)
 At the end of the 1st year: press conference
regarding the aims and steps of the project, part of a
public presentation of the project including data
regarding asthma in Portugal.
Amélia Fernandes
Belarmino João
José Carlos Gomes
Sérgio Fernandes
 At the end of the third year: a second press
conference to ensure the dissemination of individual
results (concerning schools and asthmatic/no
asthmatic children)
Physical Activity Promotion Project
in asthmatic children and adolescents
Planning
FIRST
YEAR
Two months period
Contacts with stakeholders
Ellaboration of the “Handbook for
physical teachers
Teacher´s continuum educational
program
Dissemination through the health
professionals
Parent´s sensitisation
Student´s sensitisation
Media contact
Amélia Fernandes
Pilot project
Belarmino João
Strategies evaluation
José Carlos Gomes
Result´s evaluation
Sérgio Fernandes
Report
5
6
1
2
SECOND
3
4
5
6
1
2
THIRD
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4