Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Mountasser Kadrie

Abstract

Children with asthma remain a problem in public health because asthma drastically impacts children’s daily activities, increases absenteeism in school, and causes difficulties in sleeping. Researchers have demonstrated that poor asthma management is due to a lack of education about the correct inhaler technique, and the appropriate doses are not inhaled. Researchers have yet established whether asthma symptoms improve based on the doses inhaled with or without a spacer and whether children are most likely to experience fewer asthma episodes or attacks if they receive professional instruction. The purpose of this study was to fully understand the influence of an inhalation device with or without a spacer in medication delivery and to understand if instruction given by clinicians alleviates the number of asthma episodes or attacks. The transtheoretical or stages of change was used to analyze an individual’s ability to act on a new healthier behavior. This study involved children (N = 416) aged 7 through 12 years old who participated in the 2015 Asthma Call-Back Survey. Quantitative cross-sectional study design was used to encompass information, including an interview questionnaire, a survey, and existing literature. A chi-square, Phi, and Cramer’s V test were used to address the research questions. The results of this study indicated that managing asthma symptoms does not depend on the number of doses inhaled with or without a spacer. Children are less likely to experience asthma episodes or attacks with proper professional education. Further exploration is needed to investigate the effectiveness of the method of teaching by pharmacists and other clinicians. The parents of children and clinicians may benefit from the results of this study by taking immediate health improvement action.

Download

Share

 
COinS