Effect of parental knowledge and attitude in the control of childhood asthma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20163683Keywords:
Attitude, Control of asthma, Knowledge, ParentsAbstract
Background:Asthma is responsible for 250,000 deaths and 1% of all the DALY (disability-adjusted life year) worldwide. It is a leading cause of school absenteeism among children and incurs a large financial burden. Parents of children with asthma have varied beliefs and knowledge about asthma and its treatment which may affect the control of asthma.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among parents of children who attended the asthma clinic of a tertiary care centre in central Kerala, India using a questionnaire.
Results:A total of 303 parents were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the asthmatic children was 5.36±1.8 years with a male to female ratio of 1.16:1. In the study group 48.18% (146/303) of the parents correctly answered >60% (at least 7 correct answers out of 11) of the knowledge questions (mean = 6.57±2.06) while only 17.16% (52/303) of the parents correctly answered >60% (at least 4 correct answers out of 7) of the attitude questions (mean = 3.20±1.33). A statistically significant association (P = 0.0035) was found between knowledge levels (<or> 60% of the knowledge questions correctly answered) and control of asthma. And a similar association (P = 0.0135) was also seen between attitude levels (<or> 60% of the attitude questions correctly answered) and control of asthma.
Conclusions:Even though parents had better knowledge of asthma than attitude, the control of asthma was related to the level of both knowledge and attitude of parents.
Keywords:
References
Adrew HL, Ronina AC, Joseph DS, Donald YM. Childhood asthma. In: Kliegman, Stanton, ST.Geme, Schor, Behrman. Nelson Textbook of pediatrics. 19th edition. Elsevier. New Delhi. 2012:780-801.
Myung JH, Seo HJ, Park SJ, Kim BY, Shin IS, Jang JH, et al. Association of nasal inflammation and lower airway responsiveness in schoolchildren based on an epidemiological survey. Korean J Internal Med. 2015;30(2):226-31.
Wook JL. Global health improvement and WHO: shaping the future. Lancet. 2003;362(9401):2083-8.
Masoli M, Fabian D, Holt S, Beasley R. The global burden of asthma: executive summary of the GINA dissemination committee report. Allergy. 2004;59(5):469-78.
Jean B, Philippe J, Philippe G, Pierre J. The public health implication of asthma. Bulletin of world health organization. 2005;83:548-54.
Weiss KB, Sullivan SD. The health economics of asthma and rhinitis. Assessing the economic impact. J Allergy Clinic Immuno. 2001;107:3-8.
Halm EA, Mora P, Leventhal H. No symptoms, no asthma: the acute episodic disease belief is associated with poor self-management among inner-city adults with persistent asthma. Chest. 2006;129(3):573-80.
Riekert KA, Butz AM, Eggleston PA, Huss K, Winkelstein M, Rand CS. Caregiver-physician medication concordance and under treatment of asthma among inner-city children. Pediatrics. 2003;111(3):214-20.
Conn KM, Halterman JS, Lynch K, Cabana MD. The impact of parents' medication beliefs on asthma management. Pediatrics. 2007;120(3):521-6.
Williams MV, Baker DW, Honig EG, Lee TM, Nowlan A. Inadequate literacy is a barrier to asthma knowledge and self-care. Chest. 1998;114(4):1008-15.
Curtis LM, Wolf MS, Weiss KB, Grammer LC. The impact of health literacy and socioeconomic status on asthma disparities. J Asthma. 2012;49(2):178-83.
Zhao J, Shen K, Xiang L, Zhang G, Xie M, Bai J, et al. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents of children with asthma in 29 cities of China: a multi-center study. BMC Pediatrics. 2013;13:20.
Expert panel report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma summary report. J Allergy Clinic Immuno. 2007;120(5):94-138.
Zaraket R, Tannir MA, Abdulhak AAB, Shatila A, Lababidi H. Parental perceptions and beliefs about childhood asthma: a cross-sectional study. Croatian Med J. 2011;52(5):637-43.
Shivbalan S, Balasubramanian S, Anandnathan K. What do parents of asthmatic children know about asthma? an Indian perspective. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 2005;47(2):81-7.
Rabe KF, Adachi M, Lai CKW, Soriano JB, Vermeire PA, Weiss KB, et al. Worldwide severity and control of asthma in children and adults: the global asthma insights and reality surveys. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;114 (1):40-7.
