Parents of asthmatic children knowledge of asthma, anxiety level and quality of life: unveiling important associations

Abstract

Purpose: Asthma in children affects millions around the world. Parents' knowledge of asthma and their quality of life (QoL) may affect the management of their asthma child. The study aimed to assess the knowledge of asthma, anxiety, and QoL of parents who have children diagnosed with asthma living in Amman, Jordan. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over five months in Amman, Jordan. Children with asthma were recruited from outpatient respiratory clinics. Parents were interviewed while waiting to see the child's respiratory specialist. The Consumer Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (twelve true/false items), Parent Asthma-Related Anxiety Scale (eleven questions), and QoL Questionnaire (thirteen questions) were used. Results: Recruited parents of the children with asthma (n= 150, mean age 5.05±3.5) showed poor asthma knowledge (score= 5.8±1.75 out of 12, and the 11-item mean is 2.42). Screening of anxiety revealed an increased risk of mild anxiety among parents (score= 26.59±7.3 out of 55, and the 13-item mean is 3.55). The QoL screening showed that parents had a median QoL (score= 39.5±12.0). Conclusion: Asthma knowledge among parents of children with asthma living in Jordan is poor. Screening of anxiety and QoL showed that many parents had mild anxiety and poor QoL. These results shed light on an urgent matter that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible in Jordan and for parents of asthma children worldwide..

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