Primary care management of childhood asthma: addressing caregiver quality of life using asthma action plans with preschool-aged children

Abstract

As the leading chronic disease in children both worldwide and in Canada, the care and management of paediatric asthma requires a significant amount of attention within health care delivery and research.While these efforts have typically been directed at the affected children themselves, or at improving the economic burden of this disease, there is substantial literature describing the effects childhood asthma can have on caregivers and their overall quality of life (QOL). Because of the high level of caregiver dependency among young children, such as preschoolers, it is clear that this effect is amplified with asthma in this age group. Current guidelines stress the use of asthma action plans (AAPs) to improve asthma outcomes in children, however there are few studies describing whether these tools may effect caregiver QOL. The purpose of this project is to evaluate whether AAPs used in the primary care setting can contribute to improved QOL in caregivers of preschool-aged children with asthma. Using an integrative literature review approach, I conducted a thorough analysis of the literature on asthma in preschoolers, the caregiver experience of childhood asthma, the primary care management of childhood asthma, and the use of AAPs in paediatric asthma. The information obtained validates the hypothesis that AAPs are valuable tools for promoting caregiver QOL in preschool-aged asthma. I close this paper by reviewing recommendations for implementing AAPs and other interventions aimed at caregiver QOL, along with suggestions for future research on this important topic.iii