ERIC Number: EJ1449637
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Stock Inhalers: A Qualitative Data Analysis of Illinois Health Policy Trials and Triumphs
Jessica Wrona; Paige Hardy; Caroline Youssef; Semmy Adeleke; Molly A. Martin; Lynn B. Gerald; Andrea A. Pappalardo
Journal of School Health, v94 n10 p918-928 2024
Background: Asthma reliever medication access is critical, especially in schools. Policies that "stock" reliever inhalers in schools provide failsafe medication access. This research aims to understand barriers and facilitators to Illinois stock inhaler policy implementation. Methods: We conducted 18 semi-structured interviews in 2021-2022 with key school-based and non-school-based partners (school administrators, nurses, governmental agencies, and advocacy leaders). Through Atlas.ti, code frequencies compared (Fisher's exact test), and a thematic analysis performed. Results: Four themes emerged--facilitators, barriers, program rationale, and process considerations. The common facilitators were "Finding a provider," having a "Champion," and "Funding". Barriers included "Not enough school nurses," "Pharmacy refusal to fill prescriptions," and "Feeling overwhelmed." All were supportive of the rationale for stock inhalers. Non-school-based informants (p < 0.01) were more likely to mention medication donations, while school staff reported having enough nurses as a facilitator (p < 0.01). School staff reported concerns about children with asthma not having their medication significantly more than other partners (p = 0.02). Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: Our analysis revealed that school partners recognize the value of stock inhalers. Barrier mitigation to support the funding, prescription access and processing, and training are essential to success of stock inhaler programming. Multilevel collaborative efforts through coalitions could be a potential solution.
Descriptors: Health, Public Policy, State Policy, Diseases, Drug Therapy, Medicine, Policy Formation, Administrators, Nurses, Public Agencies, Barriers, School Nurses, Access to Health Care
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A