Parents’ Expectations Influence Children’s Asthma

According to new research, children with asthma whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally, are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition.

A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Boston University, has found parents’ expectations and perceptions are key factors which influence how well their children’s asthma is controlled, and how effectively they use medications.

Dr. Tracy Lieu, the study’s senior author says raising parents’ expectations for how well their children can do with asthma may be one of the keys to reducing racial/ethnic disparities in asthma outcomes.

The research also revealed that children are more likely to use asthma controller medications appropriately if they have a routine for taking medicine and if their parents clearly understand how well symptoms can be controlled.

Asthma is one of the most common childhood chronic illnesses and the most frequent cause of children’s hospitalization and racial and ethnic minorities and families of low socioeconomic status are at increased risk of having poorly controlled asthma.

For the study, the investigators surveyed more than 700 parents of children aged 2 to 12 years with persistent asthma.

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