[Use of stethoscope by mothers of asthmatic children ages 1-5]

Abstract

The mothers of 24 asthmatic children aged 1-5 years, who visited a department of family medicine at the time of the attacks, were assigned alternately to 2 groups. The experimental study group got guidance and instruction in the use of the stethoscope, and also participated in a self-management educational program led by the family physician. The control group only got guidance and participated in the latter program. The purpose of the study was to determine whether mothers could assume more responsibility in decision-making with regard to their children's asthmatic attacks after basic technical guidance in the use of the stethoscope and in the interpretation of auscultatory findings. The results show that the initial steps in self-management were adequate in the 2 groups. These included recognition of the first signs of asthma in the child, a relaxed attitude (not to panic), the dispensing of suitable amounts of fluid, and the administration of bronchodilator medication without waiting for the physician's examination. Instructions to continue bronchodilator drugs, both oral and by inhaler, were more detailed in the experimental group. During the year of follow-up there were fewer visits to the clinic and the emergency room and no hospital admissions by those in the experimental group. The main conclusion of this study is that in conjunction with a self-management program, it is possible to teach mothers to use a stethoscope, to correctly interpret the auscultatory findings and accordingly, to give adequate treatment. This reduces clinic and emergency room visits and hospital admissions, relieves anxiety, and increases confidence in coping with this illness.