Asthma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asthma, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, medications.

Family asthma management routines: connections to medical adherence and quality of life.

Fiese BH, Wamboldt FS, Anbar RD

Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA. bhfiese@psych.syr.edu <bhfiese@psych.syr.edu>

OBJECTIVES: To develop a reliable measure of asthma management routines and examine its association with health care utilization, medical adherence, and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Families (n = 153) with a child with asthma, drawn from two sites, participated in the study. Parents completed the Asthma Routines Questionnaire, Adherence to Clinical Trials interview, Functional Severity of Asthma Questionnaire, and Caregiver Quality of Life. Children completed the Pediatric Quality of Life. Electronic monitoring of medication use over a period of 12 months was available for children at one study site. RESULTS: A principal component factor analysis revealed two dimensions to the Asthma Routines Questionnaire: Medication Routines and Routine Burden. Medication Routines were related to medical adherence and to health care utilization. Routine Burden was related to caregiver and child quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The Asthma Routine Questionnaire holds promise as a reliable assessment of family practices related to medication use. The emotional burden of daily care can be distinguished from medication use, which is more closely linked to adherence issues. Targeted questions during regular care may reveal family routine practices amenable to intervention.

Published 3 February 2005 in J Pediatr, 146(2): 171-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Asthma Research Today. All Rights Reserved.