![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the associations of parenting stress and caregiver negative health beliefs with medication adherence in a sample of preschool-aged children with asthma.
Methods: Participants included 43 caregivers and their child with asthma, aged 2–5 years, who were prescribed a preventative or controller medication. Assessment included parent report of parenting stress associated with parental characteristics and difficult child behavior, health-related beliefs, and adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Pharmacy refill records were reviewed to measure medication adherence objectively. Statistical analyses included paired samples t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficients.
Results: Parent-report and objective measures of adherence to ICS were significantly different, with parents reporting significantly higher rates of medication adherence (p < 0.001). Also, increased caregiver negative health beliefs, but not parenting stress, were significantly and negatively associated with an objective measure of ICS adherence (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Because the findings for parenting stress are not consistent with that of the literature on school-aged children with asthma, our results may suggest that preschool children are a unique developmental group. A review of endorsed health beliefs also highlights strengths and concerns for caregivers of these very young children. Overall, our study findings underscore the importance of caregivers’ health-related beliefs in promoting adherence to ICS in young children with asthma.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Stacey Simon, Ph.D., Shana Schuman, M.S., Cyd Eaton, B.S., Leslie Hendeles, Pharm.D., and Sarah Chesrown, M.D., for their contributions to the study. We also would like to thank Aaron Metzger, Ph.D. and Katelyn Ferris, M.S. for their statistical expertise and guidance.