Caregiver Quality of Life in Pediatric Asthma: Associations With Beliefs and Concerns About Medications and Emergency Department Use. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Everhart, Robin S.; Fedele, David A.; Miadich, Samantha A.; Koinis-Mitchell, Daphne
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 54:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 256
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: asthma -- quality of life -- caregiver -- emergency department; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922814551134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Objective. To examine caregiver quality of life (QOL) related to pediatric asthma among families from Latino, African American, and non-Latino white (NLW) backgrounds. Methods. In all, 94 children with persistent asthma (6-15 years) and their primary caregivers completed interview-administered questionnaires. Results. Overall QOL and subscale scores differed across race/ethnicity, with NLW caregivers reporting higher QOL. Caregivers who expressed more concerns about their child's medications and more beliefs in the necessity of asthma medications had lower QOL. In African American and Latino families, caregiver QOL mediated the association between beliefs about the necessity of asthma medications and child emergency department (ED) use. Conclusions. Caregiver beliefs and concerns related to child asthma medications may begin to explain differences in caregiver QOL across NLW, Latino, and African American caregivers. Caregiver QOL may be a mechanism by which caregiver beliefs and concerns about asthma medications are associated with child ED use.