Designing a physical activity intervention for children with asthma: a qualitative study of the views of healthcare professionals, parents and children with asthma

Abstract

ObjectivesQualitative methods were used to examine: (1) the attitudes of health professionals to promoting physical activity for children with asthma; (2) reasons why children with asthma are less active and (3) how a physical activity programme for children with asthma could be designed.DesignSemistructured interviews were conducted with health professionals, children with asthma and their parents between October 2015 and March 2016. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.SettingPrimary and secondary care in Bristol (UK).ParticipantsInterviews were held with 8 primary care practitioners (5 general practitioners, 2 nurse practitioners and 1 practice nurse), 9 parent–child dyads (2 fathers, 7 mothers, 6 sons, 3 daughters) of children aged 6–7 who had asthma and 4 secondary care professionals (2 respiratory consultants, 2 specialist nurses).ResultsHealth professionals reported that physical activity was beneficial for children with asthma and if managed appropriately, children with asthma could be as active as children without asthma. Current promotion of physical activity for children with asthma was limited and restricted by NHS staff time, access to inhalers at school and a lack of parental knowledge. Potentially important components of a new programme include parental education on the possibilities of activity for children with asthma and the difference between exercise-induced breathlessness and asthma symptoms. Other important elements include how to use inhalers as a preventive measure, coping with exacerbations and practical solutions (such as clearing sputum), managing transitions from warm to cold climates and general symptom control.ConclusionsThere is a need to build on current asthma programmes to increase the support for children with asthma to be physically active. Future programmes could consider working more closely with schools, increasing parental knowledge and providing children with practical support to help be physically active.

Physical activity and asthma: cause or consequence? A bidirectional longitudinal analysis

“…This could be attributed to a good understanding of an individual’s specific triggers and adequate management and control of asthma symptoms, although asthma control could not be measured in the present study due to a lack of relevant data. Appropriate control of asthma symptoms, through the strategic administration of asthma medication, enables children with asthma to attain similar levels of PA as their unaffected peers 38. This is evident in our results and in the results of other international studies,13–16 many of which measured PA through accelerometry 13–16.…”

Physical activity among children with asthma: Cross‐sectional analysis in the UK millennium cohort

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Children’s, parents’ and health professionals’ views on the management of childhood asthma: a qualitative study

“…Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the course of qualitative research exploring children’s, parents and health professionals’ views of managing childhood asthma and attitudes towards engaging in physical activity. 22 …”