Abstract

Background: Persons with asthma may suffer from exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), a life-threatening form of asthma that coaches may observe. The extent of coaches’ knowledge of EIB is unknown. There is no instrument to measure coaches’ asthma safety knowledge. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish reliability of a 14-item new instrument, La Manna’s Asthma Safety Questionnaire for Coaches (LASQC). The major research question is: What is the reliability of the LASQC? Theoretical Framework: Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) is the theoretical framework for the study. Methods: Convenience samples of coaches (n=43), nursing students (n=25), and health science students (n = 64), were recruited to complete the LASQC to establish internal and test-retest reliability. Data analysis included descriptive and correlational statistics. Results: Due to low responses from coaches (n = 3), internal consistency was calculated from the nursing students (n = 25, α = .75) and the health science students (n = 64, α= .17). As nursing students were not available for retesting, the LASQC was administered to exercise science students (n = 35) with a medium and significant correlation (r = .52, p < .01). Conclusion: The α for nursing students was an acceptable internal reliability, but for the exercise students, an acceptable internal reliability was not achieved. Test-retest results indicated that health science students were consistent on retest responses, but higher test-retest reliabilities are desired. Refinement of items and additional testing with coaches are needed to establish the reliability of the LASQC. New recruitment strategies are suggested to increase the response rate from coaches. The LASQC in the current form was useful to stimulate discussion among the participants about EIB safety. Although an asthma workshop was offered as an incentive for study participation, additional incentives are needed to increase participation among coaches.