Effect of self-efficacy of children and adolescents with asthma on their quality of life

This descriptive study aimed to investigate the effect of self-efficacy of children and adolescents with asthma on their quality of life. The study sample included 137 children and adolescents previously diagnosed with asthma aged between 10-18 years old who were monitored by Respiratory-Allergy Clinic at Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Pediatry Unit. A permission in writing was granted by Ege University Nursing Faculty Board of Ethics and Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital and oral assent was sought from the parents of children. The data collection tools were "Children and Adolescents with Asthma Information Form" which the researcher created, "A Self Efficacy Scale for Children and Adolescent with Asthma" at clinical visiting for monitoring children and adolescents with asthma and "Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ)". The scales were used with the written permission of the authors. The study data were analyzed with SPSS for Windows 16.0 program. Descriptive statistics were given as mean ± standard deviation; demographic variables were demonstrated as number and percentage; scales and subdimensions were shown as minimum-maximum values. The correlation between self-efficacy and quality of life and subdimension scores was analysed. The level of statistical significance was 0.05. The study results indicated that 34.3% of children and adolescents with asthma were girls and 65.7% of them were boys with a mean age of 13.7±2.2. It was noted that 35.8% of the children and adolescents with asthma were exposed to tobacco smoke at home, school, or on the streets and 21.2% of them were keeping pets at home; 77.4% of them were monitored with asthma diagnosis between1 to 50 months. It was stated that 19% of the children and adolescents with asthma had an asthma crisis within the last year and 16.1% of them had at least one "mild" or "moderate" asthma crisis; 33.6% of them were hospitalized for asthma and 89.8% of them were regularly using medication for asthma. It was determined that factors of triggering asthma crises were pollens (34.3%), house dust mites (27.7%), and pets (16.8%). It was suggested that 36.5% of the children and adolescents with asthma in the study were included in education programs, but 70.8% of the families considered these education programs to be inadequate. It was also reported that 35.8% of children and adolescents with asthma in the study had daytime "cough", 30.7% of them had nighttime "cough". Additionally it was observed that 46% of them had attacts (cough, dyspnea, wheezing) after running, exercise and physical activities. The mean scores of PAQLQ of children and adolescents with asthma "symptoms" was found to be (55.16±1.30); "activity confinement" score was (23.35±5.03); "emotional function" score was (45.73±9.34) and total "PAQLQ" score was (124.24±24.64). Moreover, the mean scores of "A Self Efficacy Scale for Children and Adolescent with Asthma"were analyzed and the study results also indicated that "medical knowledge" score was (26.00±7.62); "management skills of environmental factors" score was (30.53±5.21); "problem solving skills" score was (22.88±4.69) and total "A Self Efficacy Scale for Children and Adolescent with Asthma" score was found to be (79.41±15.65). In our study was determined that there was a negative, weak and insignificant correlation (p>0.05) between levels of self-efficacy of children and adolescents with asthma and symptoms which are subdimension of quality of life (r: -0.083, p: 0.33) and total quality of life (r: -0.035, p:0.68). In light of the study results, it was reported that scores of total quality of life of children and adolescents with asthma and its subdimensions were at moderate and high levels while scores of self-efficacy and its subdimensions were found to be at moderate levels. It was recommended that nurses inform children and adolescents with asthma with printed and visual education materials in order to increase levels of self-efficacy and quality of life as early as their initial diagnosis, which should certainly be maintained on a regular basis with the participation of their parents.