ObjectiveTo evaluate the levels of knowledge about asthma of parents of school children.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out with parents of children with medical diagnosis of asthma (mild, moderate and severe), followed up at an outpatient referral center for childhood asthma in the Southern region of Brazil (Asthma Group). Parents of children with asthma in remission and healthy children were also selected (Control Group). The Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ) questionnaire was applied in both groups.ResultsA total of 154 parents of children participated in the study; in that, 62 (40.26%) in the Asthma Group, and 92 (59.74%) in the Control Group, with a mean age of 35.60±10.03 years. Of these, 132 (85.7%) were female, and 72 (46.8%) parents studied up to high school. The average score of level of knowledge was 18.06±4.11 points. Only 30.5% parents had acceptable levels of knowledge about asthma, which were more prevalent in the Asthma Group than in the Control Group (41.9% versus 22.8%, p=0.01). The mean score in Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ) was higher in the Asthma Group (19.32±3.92 versus 17.21±4.03, p=0.001), respectively. The parents with mild and moderate asthmatic children scored more than those of severe asthma (19.5 and 19.9 versus 18.2 points, p=0.02).ConclusionMost parents had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about asthma, which reinforces the need for changes in public asthma management programs.

RESUMOOBJETIVOS: Analisar as características psicométricas identificadas pelo questionário de conhecimento em asma Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ) em pais de crianças com asma. MÉTODOS: Foram recrutados pais de crianças com asma em acompanhamento ambulatorial com pneumologistas pediátricos. Pais de crianças sem diagnóstico de asma foram recrutados em escolas públicas da mesma cidade. O questionário NAKQ possui 31 itens, sendo 25 questões com respostas "verdadeiro" ou "falso", e seis questões abertas. A pontuação mínima de conhecimento é de 0 (zero) pontos e a pontuação máxima é de 31 pontos. Além disso, o questionário recebe um ponto de corte ≥21 pontos para níveis satisfatórios (adequado) e <21 para níveis insatisfatórios (inadequado). Para a análise de precisão do instrumento foram adotados três critérios: a) consistência interna por meio do coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (αC); b) coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI); e b) teste-reteste por meio do coeficiente Kappa. Para a validação foi analisado o critério de validade corrente. RESULTADOS: Cento e cinquenta e quatro pais participaram do estudo, sendo 62 (40,3%) do grupo de asmáticos e 92 (59,7%) do grupo controle, com média de idade 35,6±10,03 anos, sendo 132 (85,7%) do sexo feminino. O ensino médio completo foi a escolaridade mais prevalente (n=72; 46,8%). O coeficiente αC foi de 0,72 e 0,70, para os grupos de pais de asmáticos e pais de crianças não asmáticas, respectivamente. O CCI foi de 0,703 (IC95%: 0,042-0,111) para pais de asmáticos e 0,687 (IC95%: 0,588-0,772) para pais de crianças sem asma. O grau de consistência nas respostas para cada item sobre a administração repetida do questionário, com aplicação do índice de Kappa, obteve valores aceitáveis em 25 (80,65%) questões, sendo oito (25,81%) classificadas como "boa" e 17 (54,84%) como "muito boa". CONCLUSÕES: O NAKQ apresentou bons índices de consistência interna e reprodutibilidade, demostrando ser um instrumento preciso e válido para mensurar o nível de conhecimento sobre a doença em pais de crianças brasileiras com asma. ABSTRACT AIMS:To analyze the psychometric characteristics identified by the Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ) in parents of children with asthma. METHODS: Parents of children with asthma were recruited in outpatient follow-up with pediatric pulmonologists. Parents of children with no asthma diagnosis were recruited from public schools in the same city. The NAKQ has 31 items, being 25 questions with answers "true" or "false", and six open questions. The minimum score for knowledge is of 0 (zero) points with a maximum score of 31 points. In addition, the questionnaire is given a cutting point ≥ 21 points to satisfactory levels (suitable) and 21 for unsatisfactory levels < (inappropriate). For the analysis of precision of the instrument, we adopted three criteria: a) internal consistency through the alpha Cronbach (αC) coefficient; b) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); and b) test-retest using the Kappa coefficient. For the questionnaire v...

Objective: To evaluate and compare the levels of quality of life of parents/caregivers of children with and without diagnosis of asthma.Methods: Parents of children with asthma (asthma group) undergoing outpatient care and parents of children without asthma or asthma in remission (control group) were selected from public schools. They answered a questionnaire about quality of life (The World Health Organization Quality of Life- WHOQOL-BREF), previously validated for the study population. Domains (physical, psychological, social relations, environment and total score) were compared between groups, as well as the levels of correlation of self-perceived quality of life and satisfaction with health.Results: 101 parents/caregivers were included in the sample, that is, 50 (49.5%) parents of asthmatic children and 51 (50.5%) in the control group. Most parents included in the sample were females (n=89; 88.1%), with mean age of 33.5±10.4 years. When assessing quality of life, the overall score of domains was considered satisfactory, both in general evaluation (68.6±13.4) and in each group (asthma: 62.8±10.7; control: 74.3±13.4; p-value<0.001). Comparison of asthma and control groups showed significant differences in total score and in scores of all domains (p<0.001).Conclusions: Parents/caregiversof children with asthma have a lower quality of life compared to parents/caregivers of healthy children.

RESUMOObjetivos: Identificar os principais alérgenos aplicados em testes cutâneos para sensibilização atópica em pacientes com diagnóstico de asma e rinite alérgica. Métodos: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada para identificar estudos clínicos nos últimos 10 anos, tendo como desfecho a utilização do teste cutâneo (prick test) no diagnóstico de asma e rinite alérgica. Foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed, Scielo e ScienceDirect. Foram incluídos artigos que abordam a utilização direta do teste cutâneo no diagnóstico das doenças alérgicas. Além disso, os estudos obrigatoriamente deveriam descrever o protocolo de utilização, bem como os alérgenos aplicados no teste. Para seleção dos artigos, três pesquisadores analisaram de forma independente os critérios de inclusão, sendo os mesmos analisados por mais dois revisores. Resultados: Treze instrumentos foram incluídos na sistemática, tendo uma variação expressiva na quantidade de reagentes (de 3 a 36 tipos). Dos 36, cinco possuíram a maior frequência de positividade à sensibilização (Artemisia vulgaris, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, epitélios de cão e de gato). Como parte do protocolo de aplicação, a região do antebraço e o período de 15 a 20 minutos são os mais frequentes. Conclusões: Alérgenos mais comuns em alergia respiratória foram descritos, sendo importante levar em consideração a região e população investigadas.DESCRITORES: testes cutâneos; diagnóstico; asma; rinite. ABSTRACT Aims:To identify the major allergens used in skin tests for atopic sensitization in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Methods: A systematic review was performed to identify clinical studies in the past 10 years whose outcomes included the skin test (prick test) in the diagnosis of asthma and allergic rhinitis. The PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases were searched and articles that addressed the direct use of skin testing in the diagnosis of allergic diseases were included. In addition, the studies had to describe the protocol and the allergens used in the test. For selection of the articles, three researchers independently analyzed the inclusion criteria, which were analyzed by two other reviewers. Results: Thirteen instruments were included in the systematic review, and the amount of reagents used varied significantly (between 3 and 36). Of the 36 reagents, five had the highest frequency of positive sensitization (Artemisia vulgaris, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dog and cat epithelia). As part of the application protocol, the forearm and the period of 15-20 minutes are the most frequently used. Conclusions:The most frequently detected allergens were described, and both the region and the studied population are important factors to be considered.

Introduction:The guidelines for the management of allergic respiratory diseases oriented towards control from medical treatment combined with measures of environmental hygiene. Immunotherapy is one of several types of treatment, applied in combination with prophylactic drugs and environmental care. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for house dust mites (HDM) in people with allergic asthma.