title: The role of asthma management beliefs and behaviors in childhood asthma immune and clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined associations of asthma management-related beliefs and behaviors with immune markers and clinical outcomes in a sample of 66 children with asthma (ages 9-18 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and parents were interviewed about asthma management beliefs and behaviors. Immune measures included stimulated production of cytokines implicated in asthmatic airway inflammation, eosinophil counts, and IgE levels. Clinical outcomes included pulmonary function, symptoms, beta-agonist use, and physician contacts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children's reports of greater conceptual understanding of asthma, parents' reports of quicker responses to asthma symptoms, and children's and parents' reports of more balanced integration of asthma into daily life were all associated with reduced inflammatory profiles. Inflammatory profiles were found to be a statistically significant pathway linking asthma beliefs and behaviors to clinical outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that interventions aimed at teaching families better asthma management approaches may have the potential to alter biological profiles in children with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. hopewalker@psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Hope A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E