Asthma Education and its Impact on Emergency Department Visits by Asthmatic Children

Abstract

Asthma is considered the commonest non communicable disease in children and it is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Asthma prevalence is increasing globally with a rising prevalence reported annually (Asher et al., 2014). Asthma is defined by GINA as a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is characterized by history of respiratory symptoms such as wheezes, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that vary over time and intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation (GINA, 2020). Asthma education is the cornerstone for asthma management and has been recommended by national and international guidelines. It has been cited as an essential component of any asthma management strategy by improving asthma knowledge and changing behavior (Coelho et al., 2018) Children rely heavily on their parents for asthma management. Therefore, asthma education needs to target the entire family. There is a need for ongoing asthma education, increased sensitivity to complex home management, and family-centered interventions by caregivers of asthmatic children that enhance communication and collaboration between caregivers and providers (Bellin et al., 2016).