Levels of knowledge about asthma of parents of asthmatic children

Roncada, Cristian; Cardoso, Thiago de Araujo; Bugança, Bianca Martininghi; Bischoff, Luísa Carolina; Soldera, Karina; Pitrez, Paulo Márcio

doi:10.1590/S1679-45082018AO4204

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Sumário

Original Article • EINSEinstein (São Paulo) 16 (2) • 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-45082018AO4204 copy

Levels of knowledge about asthma of parents of asthmatic children

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective

To evaluate the levels of knowledge about asthma of parents of school children.

Methods

A 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.

Results

A 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).

Conclusion

Most parents had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about asthma, which reinforces the need for changes in public asthma management programs.

Keywords
Knowledge; Asthma; Parents; Pulmonary medicine; Education; Public health

Characteristic		Asthma Group (n=62)		Control Group (n=92)		p value
Characteristic		n (%)	M±SD	n (%)	M±SD	p value
Parents
Age			36.19±9.22		35.20±10.57	0.547
Female		57 (91.9)		75 (81.5)		0.055
Schooling
	Elementary school	9 (14.5)		8 (8.7)
	Junior school	12 (19.4)		21 (22.8)		0.071
	High School	36 (58.1)		52 (56.5)
	Further education	5 (8.1)		11 (12.0)

Item	Answers	Asthma Group n=62 n (%)	Control Group n=92 n (%)	p value
1	Cough, wheezing and shortness of breath or dyspnea	27 (43.5)	30 (32.6)	0.110
2	True	50 (80.6)	65 (70.7)	0.110
3	True	54 (87.1)	78 (84.8)	0.440
4	False	35 (56.5)	75 (81.5)	0.001^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
5	False	52 (83.9)	37 (40.2)	<0.001^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
6	Allergy, cold and exercise	55 (88.7)	70 (76.1)	0.037^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
7	True	42 (67.7)	64 (69.6)	0.470
8	True	50 (80.6)	63 (68.5)	0.070
9	False	24 (38.7)	25 (27.2)	0.090
10	Write down the names of two types of treatments (medications) that should be regularly taken to prevent asthma exacerbations: inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene-receptor antagonist (montelukast), long-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonists	44 (71.0)	38 (41.3)	<0.001^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
11	Write down the names of three treatments (medications) that are useful during asthma exacerbation: short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonists, ipratropium bromide or oral corticosteroids	50 (80.6)	42 (45.7)	<0.001^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
12	False	27 (43.5)	26 (28.3)	0.0370
13	False	43 (69.4)	42 (45.7)	0.003^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
14	False	47 (75.8)	82 (89.1)	0.025
15	False	31 (50.0)	41 (44.6)	0.3
16	False	35 (56.5)	43 (46.7)	0.1
17	False	60 (96.8)	89 (96.7)	0.68
18	True	15 (24.2)	23 (25.0)	0.53
19	False	30 (48.4)	35 (38.0)	0.13
20	False	24 (38.7)	45 (48.9)	0.13
21	A 5-year old child has an asthma exacerbation and uses 2 puffs of inhaled salbutamol (inhaler). Five minutes later, the patient is not getting better. Write down some possible reasons for what happened: insufficient dose, very severe exacerbation, poor inhaling technique or empty device	14 (22.6)	20 (21.7)	0.52
22	False	14 (22.6)	13 (14.1)	0.120
23	Write down ways that help preventing asthma exacerbation during exercises: short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonists before exercise, improve asthma control (appropriate drug prophylaxis) or physical warming up	13 (21.0)	22 (23.9)	0.410
24	False	33 (53.2)	57 (62.0)	0.180
25	False	36 (58.1)	63 (68.5)	0.120
26	True	57 (91.9)	83 (90.2)	0.470
27	True	55 (88.7)	81 (88.0)	0.550
28	False	22 (35.5)	35 (38.0)	0.440
29	True	48 (77.4)	68 (73.9)	0.380
30	False	52 (83.9)	55 (59.8)	0.001^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
31	True	59 (95.2)	73 (79.3)	0.004^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.
Total of acceptable levels^# # Total number of parents that achieved acceptable levels of knowledge, considering the total score of the tool (cut-off point ≥21 points).	≥21	26 (41.9)	21 (22.8)	0.010^* * p<0.05. The χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the Asthma and Control Groups.

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[1] Corresponding author: Thiago de Araujo Cardoso, Avenida Ipiranga, 6,690, prédio 60, 2nd andar, Zip code: 90610-000 – Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Phone: (55 51) 3320-3694, ext. 7815 E-mail: profcardoso@live.com