The use of an interactive computer program for the education of parents of asthmatic children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether an interactive computer program improves the asthma knowledge of parents of asthmatic children attending a respiratory clinic, and to assess the acceptability of this educational method to parents.


METHODS
Parents' knowledge was assessed before and one month after using the computer program. Knowledge scores were compared using paired Student's t-tests. Parents' comments about the program were invited.


RESULTS
Whilst knowledge scores improved after exposure to the computer program, the improvement was not statistically significant (P=0.06). However, parents felt subjectively that the program was both enjoyable and useful to them.


CONCLUSIONS
Used as the sole instrument for asthma education, the program did not produce a large increase in asthma knowledge in the study population. It was, however, universally popular and may prove useful in other settings and in combination with other forms of asthma education.
Fall
A J
AJ
John Hunter Children's Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
Henry
R L
RL
Hazell
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D002648:Child; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D010290:Parents; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic; D012984:Software