The effect of health beliefs and feelings of self efficacy on self management behavior of children with a chronic disease

This study is among the first to examine the value of chronically ill children's health beliefs, self-efficacy beliefs, experiences of hospitalization, and participation in a health education program in predicting self-management behavior. Data were collected from a random sample of 214 children with asthma being served by any of four NYC hospitals. As measured, perceived self-efficacy, prior hospitalization and participation in a health education program had modest predictive value for self-management while measures of perceived severity of asthma attacks and beliefs in the benefits of self-management techniques in controlling the disease failed to predict subsequent use of self-management techniques. We conclude that (1) the Health Belief Model may not be useful in predicting the behavior of children because of their developmental status, or (2) the measures used in the present study did not adequately tap the health belief constructs.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27345/1/0000370.pd

Managing better: Children, parents, and asthma

To evaluate a health education program to improve family management of asthma, 310 children with asthma and their 290 parents were randomly assigned to a program or control group. Program families participated in health education designed to resolve specific management problems and build self-confidence in the ability to manage asthma. Following education, program parents scored better on an asthma self-management index than parents in the control group (+1.57 versus -0.83, P P P P P P < 0.05). Program children reported significantly less worry than control children about the limitations asthma imposes and about making mistakes at school.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26238/1/0000318.pd

Communication within low income families and the management of asthma

This study examines the effects of communication between low income urban parents and children about a chronic disease on the extent to which parent and child effectively manage the illness. Four asthma communication factors were identified by principal component analysis. We found that mothers whose preferred language was Spanish, and families who were not receiving public assistance, communicated more frequently about asthma in general. Spanish speaking mothers and their children communicated more about potential home treatments for asthma, and the more adults in the household the less there was communication about the need for emergency services for asthma. Mothers who preferred to speak Spanish had higher levels of management of the most recent asthma attack. Those whose children communicated with them about asthma in general were higher level managers. Children who influenced their parents' decisions about school attendance, and those whose mothers were more highly educated, had higher levels of asthma attack management. More educated mothers, ones whose children were younger at the time of the onset of asthma, and ones who received public assistance, were more involved "in general" in their child's asthma care.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28643/1/0000458.pd