The lived experiences of mother’s caring for children with uncontrolled asthma: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood-onset asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that profoundly impacts patients, their families, and healthcare systems. This study explores the lived experiences, challenges, and perceptions of mothers in managing asthma, controlling symptoms, and maintaining the quality of life for their children with asthma in Palestine. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design through semi-structured interviews was used in this study. Purposive sampling was used to identify mothers who have children with severe uncontrolled asthma in the four public hospitals with pediatric units in the West Bank, Palestine. Mothers of children with scored below 15 on the asthma control test were included in the study. The data were analyzed using an analytical framework following a thematic analysis through the NVivo 11. Results: A total of 20 mothers participated in interviews wherein they delineated the most important challenges negatively affecting asthma management from mothers’ perspectives. These challenges encompassed frequent emergency room visits, improper medication administration practices, and limitations in physical activity. The mothers expressed concerns regarding asthma control, including anxieties concerning the chronicity of the illness, adverse effects of medications, and susceptibility to weather fluctuations. The main themes that emerged from the data included reduced quality of life for the child, parental responsibility for monitoring triggers, symptoms, and medications, challenges in asthma management, apprehensions regarding asthma control, and strategies for enhancing asthma management. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the pressing need for targeted interventions to address asthma management, environmental triggers, and psychosocial disruptions related to asthma in children with asthma to enhance the quality of life and asthma control. This study highlights the importance of developing strategies that provide mothers with the appropriate information and tools to navigate the complexities of caring for a child with asthma.