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Published on: August 7, 2017
Associations of inhaler technique, medication adherence, and parental illness perception on asthma control in
Aylin Akca Sumengen1, Linda M Gibson-Young2, Ellen Buckner3
1The University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
Insights
Pediatric asthma control is linked to correct inhaler use and adherence, but many children struggle with these. Parental education and financial stability also significantly impact asthma outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Behavioral Science
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Effective pediatric asthma management requires medication adherence, proper inhaler technique, and positive parental perceptions of the illness.
- These factors are crucial for achieving optimal asthma control in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the levels, interrelationships, and predictive value of medication adherence, inhaler technique, and parental illness perception for asthma control in children aged 7-11 years.
- To identify sociodemographic factors influencing pediatric asthma control.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study involving 62 children with asthma and their caregivers in Alabama, USA.
- Asthma control was assessed using the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT).
- Medication adherence, inhaler technique (pressurized metered-dose inhaler with spacer), and parental illness perception (Asthma Illness Representation Scale) were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Only 34.77% of children demonstrated correct inhaler technique.
- Inhaler technique and medication adherence showed positive correlations with asthma control and parental attitudes toward medication, respectively.
- Higher caregiver education and perceived financial well-being were associated with better asthma control. Later age at diagnosis predicted poorer control.
Conclusions:
- Despite generally favorable asthma control scores, challenges persist with incorrect inhaler use and suboptimal adherence.
- Parental perceptions, caregiver education, and financial well-being are significant determinants of pediatric asthma control.
- Family-centered educational strategies are essential for improving pediatric asthma management and outcomes.
Objective:
Effective pediatric asthma management relies on medication adherence, correct inhaler technique, and positive parental illness perception. This study examined the levels, interrelationships, and predictive value of these factors for asthma control among children aged 7-11 years.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional observational study, 62 children with asthma and their caregivers were recruited from community and clinical settings in Alabama, USA. Asthma control was assessed using the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), medication adherence via the Medication Adherence Report Scale for Asthma (MARS-A), and parental illness perception via the Asthma Illness Representation Scale (AIRS), including five subscales: Attitudes Toward Medication Use, Treatment Expectations, Facts About Asthma, and Nature of Symptoms/Emotional Aspects. Inhaler technique was evaluated using a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) with a spacer via a 9-step checklist. Descriptive statistics summarized outcomes, and correlations and regressions explored relationships.
Results:
Only 34.77% of participants demonstrated correct inhaler technique. Inhaler technique correlated positively with asthma control (rs = .25, p = .048), and medication adherence correlated with parental attitudes toward medication (rs = .46, p < .001). Regression showed that later age at diagnosis predicted poorer asthma control (B = -0.64, p = .008). Ordinal regression indicated that higher caregiver education (high school: B = -5.73, p = .019; college: B = -4.90, p = .027) and perceiving income as exceeding expenses (B = -4.63, p = .045) were associated with better asthma control.
Conclusions:
Despite favorable control scores, incorrect inhaler use and suboptimal adherence remain challenges. Parental perceptions and sociodemographic factors, particularly education and financial well-being, significantly influence outcomes. Findings underscore the need for family-centered educational strategies to improve pediatric asthma management.
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