title: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) amongst asthmatic children and their families: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asthmatic children are at risk of compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL) compared with their healthy peers. This systematic review reports the range and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to improve HRQOL amongst asthmatic children, adolescents, and their families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data sources included The Cochrane Airways Group Trials Register of trials, PubMed database, and reference lists from review articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen studies of psychosocial interventions were identified. Interventions were designed to improve HRQOL amongst a range of psychosocial, health care, school-related and clinical outcomes, and were delivered in numerous settings and formats. Four studies reported that interventions were effective for significant improvements in child overall HRQOL scores. These include asthma education (n = 2), asthma education plus problem solving (n = 1), and art therapy (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most interventions focussed on the delivery of asthma education to children, with the purpose of improving knowledge about asthma and disease management. There is limited evidence to suggest that interventions currently available are effective for significantly improving HRQOL amongst asthmatic children, adolescents, and their families. Most interventions lacked a theoretical basis and did not focus on family functioning variables. Multi-component interventions that incorporate asthma education along with strategies to assist families with implementing behaviour change towards improved asthma management are required. Future interventions should also attempt to address the wider context of family functioning likely to contribute to the family's ability to engage in successful asthma management in order to improve HRQOL.
authors: Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. sally.clarke@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
authors: Sally-Ann
authors: SA
authors: Clarke
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Calam
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001155:Art Therapy / Q000379:methods; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005195:Family Relations; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological