Despite advancements in asthma research and treatment, there is still a large racial gap in outcomes for Black and Hispanic children with asthma. To create effective strategies to rectify this disparity, more resources and better communication are needed.
A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing analyzed the importance of good communication between a healthcare provider and a pediatric patient with asthma. The study authors argue that such communication is necessary for the child and their caregiver to recognize and appropriately respond to asthma symptoms. Â
Researchers at Kent State University designed the study using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design to examine age appropriateness for a 15-question instrument used for children. A focus group was used to enhance the questionnaire. The study sample included 25 children with asthma, ranging from age 8 to 12.Â
The researchers ultimately concluded that the questionnaire seemed to be instrumental in increasing the frequency and clarity of provider-child communication. A call to action is made, advocating for greater provider-child communication and further research to see if such an intervention can improve asthma outcomes [1].Â
Source:
[1] Dowell, J., Arcoleo, K., Ruiz, Z., & Halula, R. (2020). Children with Asthma and Communication with Healthcare Provider: Instrument Development. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 50, 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.11.003