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Parental illness perceptions and medication perceptions in childhood asthma, a focus group study
Ted Klok1, Paul L Brand, Hanna Bomhof-Roordink
1Princess Amalia Children's Clinic, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, the Netherlands. t.klok@isala.nl
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 24, 2010
Summary
Parental perceptions of asthma and medication significantly impact adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Specialist care, with regular follow-up, improves adherence by addressing these perceptions, unlike primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric pulmonology
- Health psychology
- Qualitative research methods
Background:
- Asthma guideline adherence is frequently suboptimal due to patient nonadherence.
- Understanding parental perceptions is crucial for improving adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how variations in asthma care influence parents' perceptions of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
- To identify factors affecting parental decision-making regarding ongoing ICS use in children.
Main Methods:
- Six semistructured focus groups were conducted with 44 parents of asthmatic children (aged 2-12 years).
- Participants were receiving care in either primary or specialist settings.
- Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using standard qualitative research methodologies.
Main Results:
- Parents' decisions on ICS utility were based on their perceptions of illness and medication.
- In primary care, discussions about ICS were infrequent, with less scheduled follow-up.
- Specialist care facilitated discussions, modifying parental perceptions and leading to higher reported adherence compared to primary care.
Conclusions:
- Parental perceptions of illness and medication strongly influence adherence to healthcare advice.
- A robust doctor-patient partnership can modify these perceptions, thereby enhancing adherence to asthma treatment.
- Differences in healthcare delivery models significantly impact parental engagement and adherence to ICS therapy.
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