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Parental attitudes towards the management of asthma in ethnic minorities

Nigel C Smeeton1, Roberto J Rona, Jane Gregory

  • 1Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, UK. nigel.smeeton@kcl.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 8, 2007
PubMed

Insights

South Asian parents hold distinct beliefs about childhood asthma management, including reluctance to use preventer medications and concerns about drug side effects. These cultural perspectives influence their healthcare decisions and highlight the need for culturally sensitive asthma care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology of Health

Background:

  • Children from South Asian and black minority ethnic groups in the UK exhibit higher rates of accident and emergency (A&E) visits and hospital admissions for childhood asthma.
  • Understanding parental beliefs and management practices is crucial to address disparities in healthcare utilization for pediatric asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the beliefs and asthma management strategies of South Asian parents compared to white parents in the UK.
  • To identify potential contributing factors to the higher hospital service use among South Asian children with asthma.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire survey was conducted with 150 parents of children aged 3-9 years with asthma.
  • Participants were recruited from asthma clinics and A&E departments at three London hospitals serving multicultural populations.
  • Parental views on asthma causes, treatment adherence, prognosis, and stigma were compared across White, South Asian, and other ethnic groups.

Main Results:

  • South Asian parents were less likely to administer preventer medications and more likely to perceive medicines as potentially harmful or addictive compared to white parents.
  • South Asian and other ethnic groups showed greater reluctance to disclose their child's asthma diagnosis to others.
  • Significant odds ratios were reported for these differing beliefs and behaviors between ethnic groups.

Conclusions:

  • Cultural beliefs significantly influence asthma management practices among ethnic minority parents in the UK.
  • Healthcare providers should prioritize understanding and addressing parents' specific beliefs and concerns to improve pediatric asthma care.
  • Culturally sensitive communication and education are essential for effective asthma management in diverse populations.
Abstract

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