RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How young children learn independent asthma self-management: a qualitative study in Malaysia
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 819
OP 824
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2019-318127
VO 105
IS 9
A1 Siti Nurkamilla Ramdzan
A1 Ee Ming Khoo
A1 Su May Liew
A1 Steven Cunningham
A1 Marilyn Kendall
A1 Nursyuhada Sukri
A1 Hani Salim
A1 Julia Suhaimi
A1 Ping Yein Lee
A1 Ai Theng Cheong
A1 Norita Hussein
A1 Nik Sherina Hanafi
A1 Azainorsuzila Mohd Ahad
A1 Hilary Pinnock
YR 2020
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/105/9/819.abstract
AB Objective We aimed to explore the views of Malaysian children with asthma and their parents to enhance understanding of early influences on development of self-management skills.Design This is a qualitative study conducted among children with asthma and their parents. We used purposive sampling and conducted focus groups and interviews using a semi-structured topic guide in the participants’ preferred language. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, entered into NVivo and analysed using a grounded theory approach.Settings We identified children aged 7–12 years with parent-reported, physician-diagnosed asthma from seven suburban primary schools in Malaysia. Focus groups and interviews were conducted either at schools or a health centre.Results Ninety-nine participants (46 caregivers, 53 children) contributed to 24 focus groups and 6 individual interviews. Children mirrored their parents’ management of asthma but, in parallel, learnt and gained confidence to independently self-manage asthma from their own experiences and self-experimentation. Increasing independence was more apparent in children aged 10 years and above. Cultural norms and beliefs influenced children’s independence to self-manage asthma either directly or indirectly through their social network. External influences, for example, support from school and healthcare, also played a role in the transition.Conclusion Children learnt the skills to self-manage asthma as early as 7 years old with growing independence from the age of 10 years. Healthcare professionals should use child-centred approach and involve schools to facilitate asthma self-management and support a smooth transition to independent self-management.Trial registration number Malaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR-15-1242-26898).