Improving Self Management of Children and Young People with Asthma through the ‘Getting Sorted’ Model
What:
This project engages young people in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull and Wakefield with asthma to better manage their health and wellbeing. Getting Sorted enables young people with asthma to co-design and deliver a self care programme. The key objective is to enable young people to increase their self management and understanding of their asthma in ways that suit them, thereby reducing the risk of long term complications and hospital admissions.
Why:
Approximately 1.1 million children in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma and a child is admitted to hospital with asthma every 19 minutes (Asthma UK, 2009). From April 2007 to March 2008 38% of admissions from an asthma attack were for children aged less than 15 years, with total asthma related admissions costing the NHS an estimated £61 million (Asthma UK, 2009). Asthma is highlighted as the most common long term condition in children and young people. Implementing a self-care programme for children with asthma is a logical step in reducing the use of health related services and the significant cost to the NHS.
Impact:
This project is at an early stage of implementation. The team are currently working on measures to demonstrate the impact of the ‘Getting Sorted’ programme on the self management skills of children and young people and a reduction in acute episodes and hospital admissions.
Lead Contact: Elizabeth Webster, Director of ‘Getting Sorted’ programme, Leeds Metropolitan University
0113 812 4897 or E.Webster@leedsmet.ac.uk
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/gettingsorted
