Quality of life among asthmatic schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: a mixed-method study

One of the optimal asthma management goals is to improve patients' quality of life. Limited Saudi studies assessed quality of life (QoL) among vulnerable groups like schoolchildren. This study conducted quantitative and qualitative approaches to examine asthma-related QoL in Saudi adolescent students. A mixed-approach study was conducted among guardians of Saudi schoolchildren with confirmed asthma disease during May and November 2025. Based on in-depth asthma QoL interviews, a qualitative approach was completed, and quantitative methods were applied for comprehensiveness. Both approaches were influenced by the reliable and verified Arabic PedsQL Asthma Module. MAXQDA was used to assess guardians' comprehensive responses, and the PedsQL Asthma Module scale was used to categorize and analyze the conclusion responses. Qualitative and quantitative analyses include 46 interviews. As some feelings of anxiety and worry among children were shown to be linked with asthmatic symptoms and complications, it appears that this nervousness impacts guardians and might affect their QoL. Some found asthma to be challenging to manage, leading to anxiety and fear of complications. The quantitative approach revealed a substantial effect size of high asthma QoL compared to moderate to poor QoL (Hedges' g = - 0.690, p 0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that Saudi asthmatic adolescents have moderate QoL, but clinical and school-based care gaps exist. QoL is driven by asthma symptoms and management, which may create worry in children and parents. Furthermore, environmental differences in Saudi Arabia may affect asthmatic students' respiratory health. These issues should be addressed to improve asthmatic adolescents' QoL.