What do parents of asthmatic children know about asthma?: An Indian perspective.
BACKGROUND
Despite the magnitude of the asthma problem, very little is known about the public perception about asthma.


METHODS
This descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice about the causation, treatment and prognosis of asthma amongst the parents of children with asthma. Subjects were parents of asthmatic children attending two exclusive paediatric hospitals at Chennai, India. A semi-structured pre-validated questionnaire, which included their general understanding on asthma, its triggers and management, was administered.


RESULTS
One hundred parents of asthmatic children participated in this study. A diagnosis of asthma was accepted only by 39%, of which only three knew exactly what asthma means. Perception that asthma is contagious was observed by 26%, and 35% believed asthma to be a hereditary disease. Various dietary items were perceived as triggers. Most of the parents (62%) administered oral beta-agonist medication at home before proceeding to hospital, but majority were using them as cough medication. Only 13 were administering aerosol therapy at home. Nearly one-third of the parents opined that the disease might remit with advancing age.


CONCLUSIONS
General awareness of asthma in the community is poor. Patient education programme should augment awareness, eliminate social stigma and misconcepts in the community regarding asthma. Knowledge about the prevailing perception in the community would be the first step in achieving this.
Shivbalan
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, 12-A, Nageswara Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, India. shivbalan1@rediffmail.com
Balasubramanian
S
S
Anandnathan
K
K
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents