Decision-making in children with asthma and their parents.
OBJECTIVE
To learn how children with asthma and their parents make treatment-related decisions.


METHODS
Verbatim transcripts of focus group interviews of 28 school age children with asthma and their parents. Children had attended an educationally based asthma camp program. Questions related to choices parents and children made regarding implementation of their asthma treatment plans both, at home and at school.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents and children made many non-adherence decisions especially with respect to preventive aspects of the treatment plan. Symptoms were the driving force for children's decisions. Parents and children had concerns about implementing the management plan at school. Parents and children may not perceive asthma treatment options as true choices, thus affecting motivation for adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Practitioners need to form partnerships with parents and children in developing treatment goals. Goals should focus on achievement of normal daily activities. Asthma education needs to be concrete and include school personnel. Practitioners need to give families positive, informational feedback.
Meng
Anne
A
School of Nursing University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. ameng@utmb.edu
McConnell
Susan
S
D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents