Health experiences of adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma
Health experiences of adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma
Background: and aims Many adolescents with asthma experience continued symptoms and impaired quality of life despite modern therapy. This study sought to understand their experience and to use this understanding to improve their clinical management.
Design and subjects: Qualitative study based on in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma.
Results: 22 adolescents (11–18 years) with uncontrolled severe asthma were interviewed. Two of the overarching themes that emerged were: (A) medication and adherence; and (B) interaction with healthcare professionals and adherence with their advice. Despite frequent visits to clinic, some did not understand why they were using medications. Many felt that only some medications worked and were concerned about adverse effects. Factors related to intentional non-adherence were not being ‘bothered’ and conflicts with other activities. In particular, most were not using their spacer. Some though perceived a positive benefit to using their preventer treatment. Half the participants lived with a pet that they were sensitised to and two-thirds lived with a smoker. Adolescents felt involved in the clinic consultation and felt it was helpful but many did not take responsibility for interacting with health professionals. Parents were relied on to report symptoms, translate medical terms and remember the management plan.
Conclusions: Adherence was often poor particularly with the use of spacers. Adolescents had a poor understanding of their medication and using it often conflicted with other activities. Adolescents are very reliant on their parents. Healthcare professionals need to work to empower them to gradually take on the responsibility for their asthma.
985-991
Edgecombe, Kate
74c3f9e4-9f1e-494d-be3d-314f8a099691
Latter, Sue
83f100a4-95ec-4f2e-99a5-186095de2f3b
Peters, Sheila
121f9ce8-fd95-44f5-9a90-487a1e8e20d4
Roberts, Graham
ea00db4e-84e7-4b39-8273-9b71dbd7e2f3
30 July 2010
Edgecombe, Kate
74c3f9e4-9f1e-494d-be3d-314f8a099691
Latter, Sue
83f100a4-95ec-4f2e-99a5-186095de2f3b
Peters, Sheila
121f9ce8-fd95-44f5-9a90-487a1e8e20d4
Roberts, Graham
ea00db4e-84e7-4b39-8273-9b71dbd7e2f3
Edgecombe, Kate, Latter, Sue, Peters, Sheila and Roberts, Graham
(2010)
Health experiences of adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma.
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 95, .
(doi:10.1136/adc.2009.171579).
Abstract
Background: and aims Many adolescents with asthma experience continued symptoms and impaired quality of life despite modern therapy. This study sought to understand their experience and to use this understanding to improve their clinical management.
Design and subjects: Qualitative study based on in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma.
Results: 22 adolescents (11–18 years) with uncontrolled severe asthma were interviewed. Two of the overarching themes that emerged were: (A) medication and adherence; and (B) interaction with healthcare professionals and adherence with their advice. Despite frequent visits to clinic, some did not understand why they were using medications. Many felt that only some medications worked and were concerned about adverse effects. Factors related to intentional non-adherence were not being ‘bothered’ and conflicts with other activities. In particular, most were not using their spacer. Some though perceived a positive benefit to using their preventer treatment. Half the participants lived with a pet that they were sensitised to and two-thirds lived with a smoker. Adolescents felt involved in the clinic consultation and felt it was helpful but many did not take responsibility for interacting with health professionals. Parents were relied on to report symptoms, translate medical terms and remember the management plan.
Conclusions: Adherence was often poor particularly with the use of spacers. Adolescents had a poor understanding of their medication and using it often conflicted with other activities. Adolescents are very reliant on their parents. Healthcare professionals need to work to empower them to gradually take on the responsibility for their asthma.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 30 July 2010
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 164585
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/164585
ISSN: 0003-9888
PURE UUID: a05d846d-23c8-44e5-b6c6-a685031410bc
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 30 Sep 2010 10:13
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:50
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Kate Edgecombe
Author:
Sheila Peters
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
