Family asthma management routines: connections to medical adherence and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a reliable measure of asthma management routines and examine its association with health care utilization, medical adherence, and quality of life.


METHODS
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.
Fiese
Barbara H
BH
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA. bhfiese@psych.syr.edu <bhfiese@psych.syr.edu>
Wamboldt
Frederick S
FS
Anbar
Ran D
RD
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005190:Family; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents