Effects of nursing instruction on asthma knowledge and quality of life in schoolchildren with asthma

Abstract

The issue of whether nursing instruction efforts could improve asthma knowledge and quality of life among schoolchildren was investigated using a quasi-experimental design. The key instruments were the Asthmatic Knowledge Questionnaire and the Childhood Asthma Questionnaire-Form B. Asthmatic knowledge increased among children who received instruction from nurses (Meanpre/post=22.20/31.87, p<.05). These children also experienced significant improvements in their active quality of life (Meanpre/post=27.53/30.20, p<.05), and decreased distress (Meanpre/post=24.04/10.86, p<.05) and asthma severity (Meanpre/post=13.27/8.3, p<.05). This study finds nursing instruction helpful in improving asthma knowledge. However, in terms of quality of life, elevated knowledge has a marked (negative) correlation only with levels of distress and severity. It shows no detectable relationship with active or passive life quality. Therefore, though nursing instruction can improve schoolchildren's knowledge about asthma, the improvement in knowledge only relates to reducing distress and severity and thus improving quality of life. This result can provide guidance for nursing personnel in developing nursing instruction to improve active quality of life in child patients.