The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2005 , Vol 47 , Num 3
The first camps in Turkey for asthmatic children: six years’ experience
1Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul
2Department of Pediatrics, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa
3Department of Pediatrics, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey
Öneş Ü, Sapan N, Yazıcıoğlu M, Güler N, Tamay Z, Somer A, Canıtez Y. The first camps in Turkey for asthmatic children: six years’ experience. Turk J Pediatr 2005; 47: 222-226.

The first asthma camp in Turkey was organized for one week in İznik in September 1996. The camps were continued annually around the same time of the year in 1997, 1998, 2000, and in the consecutive years thereafter. The camp includes educational, sports and social activities. Children’s knowledge about asthma and their attitudes towards physical and social activities were evaluated by a questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were performed on the first and last day of the camp. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean spirometric values of the first and last day of the camp in spite of a vigorous physical and social program. Children enhanced their skills and knowledge about asthma and gained self-confidence in participating in sportive and social activities during the camp program. They did not experience any emergency room visit in the following year.

In conclusion, a summer camping experience is very beneficial for asthmatic children in terms of both self-education and social and physical participation. Keywords : asthma camp, asthma, children

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