Factors Associated with Asthma Control in Pediatric Patients in a Small Community Hospital in the Northeast of Thailand

Abstract

Background and Objective: Asthma is a significant global health concern, particularly in children. Effective symptom control is crucial for reducing disease severity and enhancing patients' quality of life. This research aimed to study the factors influencing asthma control in children to facilitate the development of more effective care plans. The specific objective was to examine the factors associated with asthma symptom control in children.

Methodology: This study utilized a descriptive correlational research design. The population consisted of 199 caregivers of children with asthma at Selaphum Hospital, with a purposive sample size of 170 participants. The research instrument was a multi-part questionnaire covering personal data, clinical data, and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT). The instrument's validity and reliability were verified by experts and a pilot test (reliability coefficient alpha=0.70). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, comparison, and Pearson's correlation at a statistical significance level of  p<0.05.

Results: The findings revealed that caregivers' demographic factors (gender, age, education), clinical factors (disease severity), and environmental factors (income, household size) were not statistically significantly associated with asthma symptom control in children. In contrast, the total knowledge score (r = 0.302, p < 0.001) and the self-management behavior score (r = 0.298, p < 0.001) demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation with asthma symptom control.

Conclusion: This study suggests a policy recommendation that the development and implementation of programs promoting knowledge and self-management skills for caregivers of children with asthma are essential to help patients achieve better symptom control.