Parental knowledge and attitudes toward asthma in Jordanian children with asthma, a multi-center cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective

We explored Jordanian caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward asthma in their children.

Methods

This cross-sectional investigation was conducted on caregivers visiting the pediatrics clinic at the Jordan University Hospital and King Abdullah University Hospital between December 2021 and January 2023. KAP were measured using a literature-validated questionnaire. Differences in KAP scores across participants’ characteristics were examined using the student-t test and ANOVA.

Results

A total of 108 caregivers were included in the final analysis. Caregivers were aged 30 to 40 years (54.6%) and had at least secondary education (90.7%). The majority of participants displayed appropriate knowledge with respect to asthma’s clinical course. Furthermore, the greater portion of caregivers were knowledgeable about preventing asthma attacks and treating their children during said attacks. Factors affecting knowledge of asthma included age of mothers (p < .05). On the other hand, attitude scores were affected by occupation, type of medication, and family history of asthma (all p < .05). Moreover, employee mothers, children well controlled on both Asthma Control Test and Global Initiative for Asthma scores, and having no pediatric intensive care unit admissions were associated with higher practice treatment scores (all p < .05). Overall practice score was weakly, yet positively correlated with knowledge scores (r = 0.195, p = .043). Similarly, negative attitudes were weakly correlated with higher knowledge scores (r = 0.199, p = .039).

Conclusion

While the knowledge and practice scores were satisfactory, the clinical status of children with asthma was unsatisfactory. Future studies should examine factors associated with caregiver insecurity and measure their extent of applying asthma prevention guidelines.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• knowledge
• practices
• attitudes
• Jordan
• treatment

Acknowledgments

None

Ethical considerations and consent to participate

This study was approved by the University of Jordan Institutional Review Board (Approval #10/2022/24724). All methods were carried out in accordance with guidelines and regulations of the aforementioned bodies.

Declaration of interest

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability

All data/datasets associated with this project will be pro­vided at a reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.