[Identification of the learning needs of asthmatic diseases in relatives of pediatric patients].
BACKGROUND
Information on asthma is fundamental for an adequate control and management of patients who suffer from it, or for their relatives; hence, new educational programs are being carried out in order to achieve this aim.


OBJECTIVE
To identify learning requirements for its subsequent use in the development of an educational program.


METHODS
A descriptive study was carried out. 326 surveys were applied to relatives of pediatric patients seen at the allergology department of Hospital Leonor Perez, from April to September 2003. Frequencies, percentages, as well as Pearson's chi-square test were used in order to compare groups.


RESULTS
An inadequate knowledge of treatment was observed in 69.3% of the cases, of its physiopathology in 84.7%, of its preventive medication and of crisis in 51.7 and 59.5%, respectively, as well as from the importance of both treatments in 65.3% of them. Most of the relatives included in this study recognized the importance of being instructed in the disease process (94.8%). There were no significant differences between the group of relatives with prior specialized attention and the group who attended consultation for the first time; except for preventive medication to treat crisis, where the first one showed better knowledge of the disease (p = 0.002). Difference on the overall knowledge was also better in the first group, although lower than expected.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to apply an educational program aimed at improving levels of knowledge on specific aspects of asthma.
López Chacón
Alejandro
A
Servicio de alergia, Hospital Pediátrico Leonor Pérez, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. alejandrol.chacon@infomed.sld.cu
D001249:Asthma; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires