Asthma treatment in children and adolescents in an urban area in southern Brazil: popular myths and features

Abstract

Objective: To describe the frequency of popular myths about and features of asthma treatment in children and adolescents in an urban area in southern Brazil. Methods: The parents or legal guardians of public school students (8-16 years of age) completed a specific questionnaire regarding their understanding of asthma, asthma control, and treatment characteristics. The sample included parents or legal guardians of students with asthma (n = 127) and healthy controls (n = 124). Results: The study involved 251 parents or legal guardians, of whom 127 (68.5%) were the mothers and 130 (51.8%) were White. The mean age of these participants was 38.47 ± 12.07 years. Of the participants in the asthma and control groups, 37 (29.1%) and 26 (21.0%), respectively, reported being afraid of using asthma medications, whereas 61 (48%) and 56 (45.2%), respectively, believed that using a metered dose inhaler can lead to drug dependence. However, only 17 (13.4%) and 17 (13.7%) of the participants in the asthma and control groups, respectively, reported being afraid of using oral corticosteroids. In the asthma group, 55 students (43.3%) were diagnosed with uncontrolled asthma, only 41 (32.3%) had a prescription or written treatment plan, and 38 (29.9%) used asthma medications regularly. Conclusions: Popular myths about asthma treatment were common in our sample, as were uncontrolled asthma and inappropriate asthma management. Further studies in this field should be conducted in other developing countries, as should evaluations of pediatric asthma treatment programs in public health systems.

Levels of knowledge about asthma of parents of asthmatic children

“…Of the parents of asthmatic children, 29% affirmed the pressurized inhaler would cause harm to the heart, while 21% of parents of non-asthmatic children said the same (p=0.009). ( 25 ) The influence of popular health myths, particularly those related to childhood asthma, is another important aspect in the management of the disease that should be better studied.…”

Assessment of theoretical and practical knowledge of asthma among guardians of children treated in primary care

“…(2) Studies have demonstrated that only 50% of patients achieve symptom control through treatment adherence as instructed by a health care team. (3) Inhaled medication use, with correct inhaler technique, reevaluation visits by a multidisciplinary team, and changes in lifestyle habits are strategic measures in the treatment of asthma in childhood. (4) Therefore, a cross-sectional study was designed with the objective of assessing the health literacy and asthma knowledge levels of guardians of children and adolescents (1-17 years old) diagnosed with the disease and registered in the Rede Bem-Estar (Wellbeing Network) in the city of Vitória, Brazil.…”

“… 2 Studies have demonstrated that only 50% of patients achieve symptom control through treatment adherence as instructed by a health care team. 3 Inhaled medication use, with correct inhaler technique, reevaluation visits by a multidisciplinary team, and changes in lifestyle habits are strategic measures in the treatment of asthma in childhood. 4 …”

Avaliação Da Qualidade De Vida De Pais E Cuidadores De Crianças Asmáticas

“…Parents’ knowledge about asthma and its triggers is very important, as it may influence treatment adherence and control of symptoms 4 . The degree of awareness of parents and caregivers may be one of the main causes of demands for emergency care and the rate of hospitalization of children due to asthmatic crises, making the disease control more difficult and impairing quality of life (QoL) levels of both children and their relatives 5 …”