@article {Collins1085, author = {Kevin P Collins and Debra N Weiss-Randall and Nicholas R Henry}, title = {Managing Asthma on the College Campus: Findings of a Texas Pilot Study}, volume = {60}, number = {8}, pages = {1085--1090}, year = {2015}, doi = {10.4187/respcare.03877}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Students attending institutions of higher education have the option of utilizing their student health center (SHC) for asthma management. However, a review of the available literature revealed no previous research as to how SHCs on college campuses in Texas manage students with asthma. This led to the following research questions; how are SHCs in Texas managing asthma for college students, and what are the SHC directors{\textquoteright} attitudes and perceptions of the impact of asthma on their college campuses?METHODS: This descriptive pilot study randomly selected 20 colleges in Texas; 17 institutions agreed to participate. The inclusion criteria consisted of 4-y colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with an undergraduate student population of greater than 1,000 full-time students, excluding online colleges. Once identified, the director of each institution{\textquoteright}s SHC was contacted by telephone and invited to complete the Managing Asthma on College Campuses Survey instrument via telephone interview (n = 14) or e-mail (n = 3). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and common themes were noted for the qualitative data.RESULTS: Quantitative data obtained through the survey revealed 23.5\% of SHCs provide individualized asthma action plans to students and 35\% of SHCs stated they have an emergency action plan for asthma exacerbations. Respondents noted 2 major barriers for effective asthma management on campus: lack of understanding of chronic disease management and underuse of the SHC due to a lack of awareness of its existence. Perceived barriers to visiting the SHC included access issues, money, and students self-medicating with short-acting β2 agonist inhalers and/or over-the-counter medications.CONCLUSIONS: The majority of directors were satisfied with asthma services provided to students; however, they felt more face-to-face asthma education was needed.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/60/8/1085}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/60/8/1085.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }