The nurses' role in educating parents with children suffering from asthma

Abstract

This study's main aim was to identify the nurses' role when teaching the parents about asthma. Moreover, the main objectives of the research were to identify what nurses consider to be important when educating parents, to identify how nurses make the parents more aware of what triggers Asthma Attacks and to determine how nurses educate parents on preventing asthma attacks I flare up. There is an extensive amount of research concerning asthma; however research involving this view is minimal. The stlidy was carried out among paediatric nurses working on different wards. Four wards were selected by means of a convenience sampling method of non probability and purposive sampling technique. Firstly, a pilot study was carried out to test the questionnaire for feasibility. Later, the self-designed quantitative questionnaire, including both open and closed ended questions was distributed by the nursing officer of each ward during their shift. The questionnaire was handed out to a sample of 25 nurses. The response rate obtained was 88% as 22 questionnaires were returned. The majority of participants were female nurses (n=19). Data collected in this study included both the demographic data as well as the education given by the nurse to the parents to help them identify an asthma attack. Moreover, the researcher identified the nurses' knowledge about the subject and the way they help the parents manage their children's asthma. The information gathered from the findings were analysed and so1ied out as both tables and graphs. This study showed that although the nurses had a good general understanding of their role on the whole, there needs to be more emphasis on how nurses should create an environment for better communication with the parent, what important information needs to be discussed with the parent and more familiarisation with the purpose of the main inhalers used. Another important finding was that none of the participants reported using a personalised asthma action plan during their teaching. These findings are followed by the researcher's recommendations. The researcher recommends training programmes that demonstrate how to help the parents manage their child's asthma and recommends also that the nurse should prepare a personal asthma action plan for each patient.