Enhancing Stakeholder and Community Engagement in the Development of a School-Based Asthma Programme in Malaysia

Introduction: Asthma is a variable condition requiring strategies in schools for managing attacks and poor control. Building on a successful feasibility study of a culturally tailored school-based asthma intervention (Ramdzan et al., 2024), we assessed the effectiveness and feasibility of a comprehensive asthma training programme for school staff in government primary schools in Klang District, Malaysia. Context: The intervention targeted improving awareness and knowledge of asthma management among school staff. Collaborations involved stakeholders across multiple levels, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, local health providers, school staff, parents, and children with asthma. Change and Strategy: A phased approach was employed: 1. Stakeholder Engagement and Protocol Development: Stakeholders co-designed the programme, including the school asthma action plan and implementation strategies, through brainstorming sessions, workshops, and ethical discussions. Their input simplified tools for school staff, tailored training, and developed strategies to engage parents, fostering ownership and sustainability. 2. Capacity Building: Train-the-Trainer workshops equip school health teams with skills for programme delivery and implementation. 3. Implementation and Monitoring: The intervention includes education sessions, asthma action plan dissemination, and follow-up with schools to assess usability and effectiveness. Impact: Preliminary findings show increased asthma management knowledge and confidence among school staff and improved collaboration between schools, children with asthma, parents, and healthcare providers. Stakeholder input enhanced the programme’s cultural relevance, ensuring the asthma action plan and strategies were sensitive to local customs and practices while improving usability in diverse school environments. Lessons Learned: Key lessons include the importance of early stakeholder engagement and clear, accessible asthma school guidelines to support consistent implementation. Overcoming funding challenges is crucial for sustainability. The initiative underscores the value of collaborative approaches in addressing respiratory health inequalities and improving health outcomes for children in schools.