Effects of an Asthma Education Camp Program on Quality of Life and Asthma Control among Thai Children with Asthma: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Caregiver knowledge and management ability can improve asthma control and quality of life (QoL) among children with asthma. A quasi-experimental study was proposed to assess the effect of a 1 day educational camp program on the QoL of children with asthma and on their caregivers’ asthma knowledge an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sirasuda Sommanus, Raweerat Sitcharungsi, Saranath Lawpoolsri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1561
Description
Summary:Caregiver knowledge and management ability can improve asthma control and quality of life (QoL) among children with asthma. A quasi-experimental study was proposed to assess the effect of a 1 day educational camp program on the QoL of children with asthma and on their caregivers’ asthma knowledge and management. Children with asthma and their caregivers were invited to attend a camp. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), Childhood Asthma Control Test score, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were assessed in children at the first, 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year visits. The caregiver’s knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) survey was assessed at each visit. A total of 212 patients were enrolled (mean age: 8.56 ± 1.63 years) but only 72 patients attended the camp. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, asthma severity, or asthma risk factors between camp attendees and non-attendees. The KAP of caregivers who attended the camp was significantly higher than non-attendees at the 3 month and 6 month visits (16.86 ± 2.3 vs. 15.95 ± 2.78 (<i>p</i> = 0.009); 17.25 ± 2.22 vs. 16.7 ± 2.68 (<i>p</i> = 0.04)). QoL did not significantly differ between patient attendees vs. non-attendees. PAQLQ mean score correlated with asthma control, indicating that patients with well-controlled asthma had better QoL than those with unstable asthma control (<i>p</i> < 0.001). An asthma education camp can help increase self-management knowledge, even though its effect may be short-term. Integrating asthma education into routine care could enhance asthma management in children.
ISSN:2227-9032