Radical Randy™, New 3-D MediKin™ Teaching Aide, Helps Children Understand Asthma and Take an Active Role to Control It
Asthma is the most prevalent chronic condition in children, occuring in approximately 7-10% of the population. Pediatric asthma patients (and their parents) are often reluctant to follow the prescribed regimen of controller medications. When the symptoms abate, they often cease or forget the medications. With Radical Randy™, a new MediKin™ teaching aide from Legacy Products, health care educators can explain and actually show children what happens in their lungs and airways during an asthma attack. As a result, children understand why regular medication is important (even when they feel fine) and they begin taking an active role in monitoring and controlling their asthma.
(PRWEB) April 28, 2005 -- Asthma is the most prevalent chronic condition in
children. It occurs in approximately 7-10% of the pediatric population.
Pediatric asthma patients (and their parents) are often reluctant to follow the
prescribed regimen of controller medications. When their symptoms abate, they
often cease or forget the medications. Radical Randy™, a new MediKin™ teaching
aide from Legacy Products, helps educators explain and actually show children
what happens in their lungs and airways during an asthma attack. As a result,
children begin taking an active role in monitoring and controlling their asthma.
Developed in collaboration with the Pediatrics Asthma Team at the
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Radical Randy’s chest
opens to reveal a healthy lung depicted on the right and a lung with inflamed
airways on the left. Randy’s lungs incorporate pockets with removable
bronchioles. The bronchioles can be inflated by squeezing the bulb pump that is
connected to them by plastic tubing. Air can be felt moving freely through the
healthy bronchiole’s airway demonstrating the positive affect of daily
controller medications. In the inflamed and swollen bronchiole, air gets
blocked, demonstrating why breathing is difficult or nearly impossible during
asthma flare-ups. Mucus accumulation can also be demonstrated by inserting the
provided green "mucus" into the swollen bronchiole, further blocking its
airway.
Radical Randy™ is constructed of soft, durable fabric with
embroidered details. Standing just 3-feet tall, the MediKin™ is lightweight and
portable. It is useful for home visits, one-on-one instruction, group clinics
and school education programs.
A part of Legacy’s Asthma Education
Program, the Radical Randy™ MediKin™ is available in either dark or neutral skin
tone and comes with instructor guides in English and Spanish, a videotape
demonstration class, clothing (including shirt, shorts, shoes and socks), a pair
of Expression Adapters to change Randy’s facial appearance from happy to
anxious, a jar of green "mucus", a magnifying glass and a zippered carrying
case.
In a series of three field trials of the Legacy Asthma Program,
administered by UTMB, the teaching time for basic asthma pathophysiology was
reduced from 27 minutes to as little as 13 minutes, depending on the educator’s
skill. Using the Radical Randy™ MediKin™, educators quickly demonstrated the
abstract concepts of airway inflammation, mucus accumulation,
bronchoconstriction and their relations to symptoms and medication. The MediKin™
teaching aides also helped the instructors reduce language, emotional and
learning barriers.
Radical Randy™ is part of a line of 3-D, interactive,
medical teaching tools and instructional programs produced by Legacy Products,
Inc. Legacy’s light-weight, fabric MediKins and interchangeable adapters, many
of which accommodate actual medical equipment, are used to educate patients,
caregivers and health care staff about medical conditions and treatments. For
more information on Radical Randy™ or their other products, contact Legacy
Products, Inc., P.O. Box 267, Cambridge City, IN 47327, www.legacyproductsinc.com
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb231591.htm