Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Jun 2022)
Patient Characteristics and Caregiver Asthma Knowledge of Children with Well-Controlled and Poorly Controlled Asthma
Abstract
Gulnur Com,1 Raid Amin,2 Mohini Gunnett,3 Callah Antonetti4 1Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart, Pensacola, FL, USA; 2Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA; 3Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA; 4Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart, Pensacola, FL, USACorrespondence: Callah Antonetti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart, Pensacola, FL, USA, Tel +1 850 416-4071, Fax +1 850 416-4246, Email [email protected]: To describe the socio-demographics and clinical characteristics of children in a pulmonology clinic or admitted to a children’s hospital with well-controlled and poorly controlled asthma, and to assess caregiver knowledge of asthma pathogenesis, treatment, and self-management.Patients and Methods: A cohort of 132 children aged 2– 18 years and their caregivers seen in a pediatric pulmonology clinic with a diagnosis of asthma (n=112) or admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of asthma exacerbation (n=20) were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Caregivers completed a survey, which healthcare providers then used to tailor asthma education to the patient and caregiver. Two-tail t-tests and Chi-square tests were used to compare demographics and clinical characteristics of children with well-controlled vs poorly controlled asthma.Results: Of 132 children, 111 children in this cohort had poorly controlled asthma (84%). Medicaid insurance was associated with poorly controlled asthma versus well-controlled asthma (63% vs 35% p=0.01). Asthma action plans (AAP) had previously been given to 113 caregivers (86%), but caregivers of children with both well-controlled and poorly controlled asthma still reported misconceptions about asthma pathology and management, such as stopping daily medications when asthma is controlled.Conclusion: This study contributes to the existing evidence that socio-demographics have a significant impact on asthma prevalence and proper management. Our study suggests that caregivers of children with asthma need comprehensive asthma education beyond the AAP focusing on asthma-related misconceptions.Keywords: asthma, asthma education
