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Asthma Knowledge and Preventive Behaviors Among Urban Caregivers of Children With Asthma Author: Elizabeth W. Holt Dissertation School: Tulane University Pages: 11 Publication Date: 12/2008 Availability: Access Number: 5031 Abstract: The prevalence of asthma exacerbation among urban youth has remained high despite improvements in pharmacological agents and home-based prevention techniques. Both environmental triggers in the urban environment (allergens, excess moisture, irritants) and social factors (lack of health education, knowledge about the disease, and access to preventive care) may be contributing to the increased morbidity seen among urban youth. Because asthma is a complex disease, knowledge about common symptoms, triggers, and appropriate management is paramount to prevent exacerbation. Yet, despite the high rates of asthma and high prevalence of triggers among minority children living in urban areas, knowledge about asthma has been shown to be lower among caregivers who are non-White, have lower education levels or socioeconomic status, and have lower levels of family functioning compared to their Caucasian counterparts with higher income and education. In order to address high levels of asthma morbidity among children living in urban areas, environmental, health, and housing agencies have focused attention on implementing preventive interventions to high-risk urban populations which have emphasized methods to decrease asthma triggers and increase asthma management skills. Intervention strategies typically contain educational components focused on increasing caregivers' knowledge in order to increase caregivers' allergen avoidance behaviors, improve asthma management, and decrease exacerbation of asthma. However, current evidence is mixed as to whether educational strategies used to enhance knowledge about asthma are effective. Specifically, it is not known whether caregivers with higher knowledge about asthma are more likely to engage in allergen avoidance behaviors an/or have less evidence of environmental triggers in their home. Further, the relationship between asthma knowledge, management, and morbidity needs elucidation. In this study we assessed asthma knowledge among caregivers of asthmatic children living in urban New Orleans. We hypothesized that caregivers with higher asthma knowledge scores would be 1) be more likely to engage in preventive behaviors 2) have lower observed levels of allergens in their homes, 3) report better asthma management, and 4) have children who experience reduced asthma morbidity. |
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