MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF CAREGIVERS FOLLOWING PAEDIATRIC ASTHMA EDUCATION PROGRAMME (PAEP)

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of asthma among children is common. In Malaysia, the clinical observations have demonstrated that many children with asthma were not properly assessed and did not get proper treatment. Hence, poor asthma control could cause disruption to the child's ability to get enough sleep, to pay attention, to participate in school activities and thus affecting their quality of life. Aim: The objective was to determine the effect of PAEP to change the quality of life of children, parents' management practice and parents' technique of using an inhaler for their asthmatic children. Methods: The study design was a one group pre-test-post-test intervention study. The respondents consisted of 78 parents with asthmatic children, aged between 8 to12 years old. Parents were required to answer the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory Questionnaire, Management Behaviour Survey for Familial Caregivers and skills of inhaler technique using the checklist at the Paediatric Clinic Hospital USM. Following that were given a date to attend PAEP and were assessed two months later for postintervention. The analysis for PedsQL, Management Behaviour Survey for Familial Caregivers and skill of inhaler technique was done by using paired t-test. A total of 70 parents completed the study. Results:The study showed that the mean age for children with asthma was 9.31 years. PedsQL pre-intervention scores were 75.8%, and post-intervention 82.8%. The Mean of Management Behaviour Survey for Familial Caregivers scores increased from 53.16 to 62.33 pre-intervention and post-intervention respectively. While the mean skill scores for inhaler user had increased from 3.43 to 7.13 for the MDI with a spacer. The ndings showed statistical signicance with P-values (<0.001) for PedsQL, Management Behaviour Survey for Familial Caregivers and skill scores for inhaler use. Conclusion: The PAEP had improved the children's quality of life, parents management practice and inhaler skills among parents with asthmatic children.