Management of the child with asthma in health centres : nurses' views.

Abstract

The aim and objectives of this cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory survey was to explore nurses' views on the current clinical management of childhood asthma, health education delivered, and factors enhancing and hindering childhood asthma care in local Health Centres. The purposive sample chosen from the whole target population of nurses working in Health Centres consisted of 68 nurses working in the main Health Centres. A response rate of 74% was achieved. Data was collected by means of a 24-item self-administered questionnaire which was specifically formulated for this study, since no specific tool focusing on the study's objectives could be traced. Quantitative data was inputted in excel and analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data was assigned to themes and codes. Findings from this survey imply that local Health Centre nurses perceive current childhood asthma management in Health Centres as inadequate, mostly due to scarcity in the use of standard guidelines, lack of continuity of care, and necessity of educational interventions to clients, parents, and healthcare professionals. Recommendations include: investing in educational courses/programmes on asthma, so that healthcare providers can regularly educate themselves, children, and their parents about evidence-based asthma care; introduction of standard guidelines, asthma clinics, and asthma nurse-specialists which would enhance partnership with these clients, in order to offer better treatment and support. Further research incorporating views of other healthcare professionals and of the clients themselves would examine coherence to the present findings.