Newswise — Creating social clubs and athletic activities exclusively for asthmatic youth may be an important part of intervention according to a survey presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). The study, conducted by Alysa Brimer, M.D., and colleagues at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., found that asthma makes children and adolescents feel different from their peers. This negative self-perception potentially can carry health risks, such as impinging on a young patient's adherence to medication regimens.
Recognizing that group identity is a strong force during these formative years, the study investigated the factors making the asthmatic adolescent "feel different," and explored the hypothesis that group activities, such as an asthma club, might mitigate the problem. As part of an ongoing survey, children with asthma ages 8 to 18 years were offered an anonymous questionnaire in the primary care and adolescent clinics at the hospital. The questionnaire included both multiple- choice and open-ended questions designed to explore the feelings of the respondents. The responses were numerically tallied and reported as percentages.
One third of the young patients who participated in the survey had negative feelings regarding their asthma. Nearly 40 percent of the respondents reported that their diagnosis made them feel different from their healthy peers. Although the majority (93.6 percent) indicated that they enjoy group activities, 45 percent felt restricted or excluded from school activities (i.e., athletics, clubs) due to their asthma. Outward reminders of their condition also make many self-conscious. More than one-third of respondents indicated they felt uncomfortable using an inhaler in front of friends.
An overwhelming majority expressed a preference for group activities, and nearly nine out of 10 (89.7 percent) rated playing recreational sports as their favorite group activity. The study indicates that incorporating the social preference for team or group activities into an intervention, such as an asthma club, may help asthmatic youth adjust to the disease and its treatment regimen.
The ACAAI is a professional medical organization, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill., comprising 4,700 qualified allergists-immunologists and related health care professionals. The College is dedicated to the clinical practice of allergy, asthma and immunology through education and research to promote the highest quality of patient care.
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