Parental asthma knowledge

Asthma knowledge an important components of asthma education.

To determine the levels of asthma knowledge in parents of asthmatic children and factors that may influence it.

This is a prospective study done between March 1998 and July 1998. Sixty-seven parents were interviewed using the 31 item asthma knowledge questionnaire that had been validated and translated. The children' asthma severity was classified. The questionnaire includes bio-data of children and parents, types of medication and dosages duration of asthma, exposure to cigarette smoke, acute asthma admissions, and parent's economic status.

The mean score for asthma knowledge was 15.5. The total score was 31. Asthma knowledge was significantly higher in parents whose children were using steroids [p = 0.03, CI (-3.58, -0.02)]. It correlated significantly with steroid dosage (r = 0.29, p = 0.02), and was significantly higher in parents of higher economic status. Parent's asthma knowledge had no association with children's asthma status, age of the child or parents, exposure to cigarette smoke, frequency of admission or asthma duration.

The low asthma knowledge level indicates the need to increase the effort in educating parents. The main indicator for higher knowledge was steroid usage and dosage. Higher asthma knowledge in the high-income group was probably related to levels of education.