Self-care in adults with asthma: how they cope.
The purpose of this study was to find out how well adult asthma patients in Finland cope with self-care in three areas of asthma treatment. The areas of physical, psychological and social asthma treatment were examined. Associations between demographic background data and self-care were also studied. Data (n = 130) for the study were collected using a questionnaire specially developed for this study. A deductive perspective was employed in data analysis. Respondents showed fairly good competence in self-care in all three areas of asthma treatment. However, up to 30% of the asthma patients had pets and 16% were smokers. Extra stress was reduced by exercise and positive thinking. Humour was also important in helping most of the respondents cope mentally. Social support played a significant part in fighting the sense of powerlessness which is caused by asthma. According to the results, women coped better than men in the social area of self-care.
Seinäjoki Polytechnic Research and Development Centre for Social and Health Services, Koskenalantie 17, FIN-60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.
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Mäkinen
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Suominen
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Lauri
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*