Exploring parents' understandings and concerns on self-management of childhood asthma
Author(s)
Author(s)
Lai, K. Y.
Lam, K. K. L.
Lam, S. C.
Tang, A. C. W.
Yeung, L. K. K.
Wong, M. C. S.
Date Issued
2005
Publisher
The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians
Journal
The Hong Kong Practitioner
Volume
27
Issue
5
Start page
172
End page
178
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the knowledge level, understanding and attitude of parents pertaining to self management of childhood asthma.
Design: A semi-structured focus group interview conducted in a community health intervention programme. Subjects: Six parents whose children suffered from asthma or "bronchial hypersensitivity" participated in a 45-minute focus group interview. Main outcome measures: (1) Knowledge level of the difference between asthma and bronchial hypersensitivity; (2) Understanding of the management of bronchial hypersensitivity and asthma; (3) Acceptance of the diagnosis of asthma made by doctors; (4) Parental concerns during asthmatic exacerbation and management strategies; (5) Views as to the adequacy of public health resources for the management of asthma and its education, and the associated underlying reasons. Results: There were misconceptions concerning asthma and bronchial hypersensitivity among parents, evident by the level of the parents' difficulty in accepting the diagnosis due possibly to stigmatization. Some parents were skeptical about the usefulness of proper exercise and the use of Western medicines, particularly locally inhaled steroids. The main concerns they had as regards managing asthmatic exacerbations were time investment, home environmental alertness and frustrations in "inheriting the disease". There have been no obvious strategies to relieve the stress and worries. They believed that more resources should be put towards health education of asthma for the parents or care-givers. Conclusion: There should be a tailor-made community educational initiative for childhood asthma to find out parental concerns and ideas in order to allow self-management programmes successful. We suggest more extensive public health education so as to improve the knowledge gaps and address the worries and concerns of childhood asthma care-givers. 目的： 評估父母在自行照顧兒童哮喘上的知識，了解和看法。 設計： 在一項社區健康活動中，進行半結構性小組討論及面談。 研究對象： 六位子女患有哮喘或「氣管敏感」的家長，參予約四十五分鐘的面談。 主要測量內容： (1) 對區別哮喘與氣管敏感的認識；(2) 對處理哮喘與氣管敏感的理解；(3) 對哮喘診斷的接受程度；(4) 父母在急性哮喘病發時的關注及在處理上的憂慮，(5) 覺得投放在此病的公共衛生資源是否足夠，及其背後相關原因。 結果： 父母對哮喘與氣管敏感的認識存有誤解。因恐怕其標籤效應在接受子女哮喘上感到困難。 部份家長對運動及西藥的使用尤其局部類固醇存有保留。在孩童急性病發時，父母會憂慮治病所要付出的時間， 家居環境的重要及此病的遺傳性。對紓緩此焦慮，暫未有任何可行策略。但他們認為應投放更多社會資源在教導哮喘病患之照顧者上。 結論： 社區的健康教育活動應考慮包括父母對孩童哮喘的關注與期望，以達致成功及適切的效果。 我們建議進一步推廣社區教育活動，以增加照料哮喘病患者的知識及舒緩他們的擔憂。
Design: A semi-structured focus group interview conducted in a community health intervention programme. Subjects: Six parents whose children suffered from asthma or "bronchial hypersensitivity" participated in a 45-minute focus group interview. Main outcome measures: (1) Knowledge level of the difference between asthma and bronchial hypersensitivity; (2) Understanding of the management of bronchial hypersensitivity and asthma; (3) Acceptance of the diagnosis of asthma made by doctors; (4) Parental concerns during asthmatic exacerbation and management strategies; (5) Views as to the adequacy of public health resources for the management of asthma and its education, and the associated underlying reasons. Results: There were misconceptions concerning asthma and bronchial hypersensitivity among parents, evident by the level of the parents' difficulty in accepting the diagnosis due possibly to stigmatization. Some parents were skeptical about the usefulness of proper exercise and the use of Western medicines, particularly locally inhaled steroids. The main concerns they had as regards managing asthmatic exacerbations were time investment, home environmental alertness and frustrations in "inheriting the disease". There have been no obvious strategies to relieve the stress and worries. They believed that more resources should be put towards health education of asthma for the parents or care-givers. Conclusion: There should be a tailor-made community educational initiative for childhood asthma to find out parental concerns and ideas in order to allow self-management programmes successful. We suggest more extensive public health education so as to improve the knowledge gaps and address the worries and concerns of childhood asthma care-givers. 目的： 評估父母在自行照顧兒童哮喘上的知識，了解和看法。 設計： 在一項社區健康活動中，進行半結構性小組討論及面談。 研究對象： 六位子女患有哮喘或「氣管敏感」的家長，參予約四十五分鐘的面談。 主要測量內容： (1) 對區別哮喘與氣管敏感的認識；(2) 對處理哮喘與氣管敏感的理解；(3) 對哮喘診斷的接受程度；(4) 父母在急性哮喘病發時的關注及在處理上的憂慮，(5) 覺得投放在此病的公共衛生資源是否足夠，及其背後相關原因。 結果： 父母對哮喘與氣管敏感的認識存有誤解。因恐怕其標籤效應在接受子女哮喘上感到困難。 部份家長對運動及西藥的使用尤其局部類固醇存有保留。在孩童急性病發時，父母會憂慮治病所要付出的時間， 家居環境的重要及此病的遺傳性。對紓緩此焦慮，暫未有任何可行策略。但他們認為應投放更多社會資源在教導哮喘病患之照顧者上。 結論： 社區的健康教育活動應考慮包括父母對孩童哮喘的關注與期望，以達致成功及適切的效果。 我們建議進一步推廣社區教育活動，以增加照料哮喘病患者的知識及舒緩他們的擔憂。
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