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.
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.
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].
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
