title: Helpful hints: caregiver-generated asthma management strategies and their relation to pediatric asthma symptoms and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This mixed-methods study examined the relation between caregiver-generated asthma management strategies and asthma severity in a sample of 200 children with persistent asthma (ages 5-12 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers were interviewed about asthma management strategies they found helpful in controlling their child's symptoms. A qualitative content analysis was used to identify household strategies. Indicators of asthma severity included lung functioning (FEV(1)) and functional severity (FSS). Child quality of life was also assessed (PQLQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six primary household strategies were identified: Reactive, Planning Ahead, Social, Emotional, Avoiding Triggers, and Cleaning. In general, strategies offered by caregivers did not differ by socioeconomic status. Caregivers who endorsed Avoiding Triggers as effective strategies had children with better lung functioning. Caregivers who endorsed Planning Ahead or Emotional strategies had children with better asthma-related quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These household strategies hold promise for reducing pediatric asthma symptoms and improving child quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Family Resiliency Center, Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 W. Nevada, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Barbara H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Fiese
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knestel
authors.forename: Robin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Everhart
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index