p. 1-108 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-05-07T18:52:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 333333333.pdf: 1124886 bytes, checksum: 7e13fed3f76a7151c6461ac5435b956f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Meirelles(rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-05-09T17:19:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 333333333.pdf: 1124886 bytes, checksum: 7e13fed3f76a7151c6461ac5435b956f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-09T17:19:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 333333333.pdf: 1124886 bytes, checksum: 7e13fed3f76a7151c6461ac5435b956f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Introdução: A prevalência de asma e outras doenças alérgicas têm aumentado no mundo. As crianças representam o grupo mais afetado. Fatores ambientais encontram-se relacionados, sobretudo, fatores do ambiente interno domiciliar onde as crianças permanecem várias horas durante o dia. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre fatores do ambiente domiciliar e sintomas de asma e atopia em crianças escolares. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal de base populacional no período de fevereiro a agosto de 2008, como parte de um estudo longitudinal que investiga fatores de risco para asma e alergia em crianças escolares (SCAALA). Foram estudados os domicílios de 1311 crianças nas idades de 4-13 anos. Informações sobre as condições dos domicílios foram coletadas por meio de uma entrevista padronizada. A prevalência de sintomas de asma foi investigada utilizando questões do estudo ISAAC. Atopia foi avaliada pela positividade ao teste cutâneo para aeroalérgenos comuns e os níveis sorológicos de IgE específica. A área da superfície dos domicílios, a temperatura e a umidade ambiental foram medidos. Análise descritiva através da freqüência das principais variáveis foi representada em tabelas. O modelo de regressão logística foi utilizado na análise da associação entre as variáveis desfecho e as principais covariáveis controlando para possíveis confundidores. Resultados: Os resultados mostram que a aglomeração de mais de uma criança <14 anos por dormitório é fator de risco para asma atual (OR: 1,24; 95%IC 1,04-1,48), e chiado alguma vez na vida (OR: 1,25; 95%IC 1,08-1,43); o período que as janelas permanecem abertas para ventilação (menos da metade do dia) representa fator de risco para chiado nos últimos 12 meses (OR: 1,84; 95%IC 1,08-3,12) e chiado alguma vez na vida (OR: 1,66; 95%IC 1,05-2,63); e a presença de umidade ou mofo na casa é fator de risco para rinite (OR: 1,72: 95%IC 1,26-2,34). Não foram identificados fatores de risco para asma alguma vez na vida, asma grave e atopia. Conclusão: São fatores de risco para sintomas de asma: aglomeração de mais de uma criança <14 anos por dormitório e o período que as janelas ficam abertas para ventilação; e para rinite: a presença de umidade ou mofo na casa. Os resultados apontam para a importância de uma maior disponibilidade de espaço para cada morador e melhor ventilação dentro do domicílio, assim como da necessidade de manutenção da estrutura física dos domicílios. / Salvador

O aprofundamento de nosso conhecimento acerca das alterações da mecânica respiratória e da resposta ao uso do broncodilatador em crianças com asma pode contribuir para o melhor entendimento desta doença. A técnica de oscilações forçadas (FOT) apresenta elevado potencial neste sentido, pois permite uma avaliação detalhada da mecânica respiratória de crianças asmáticas. Desta maneira, os objetivos deste estudo são: (1) aprofundar nosso conhecimento sobre as alterações de mecânica respiratória em crianças asmáticas; (2) investigar o potencial de utilização clínica da FOT e (3) analisar as alterações de mecânica respiratória decorrentes da resposta broncodilatadora em crianças asmáticas. No presente estudo foram analisadas 93 crianças, separadas em grupo controle (n=31) e grupo de crianças asmáticas divididas de acordo com o grau de obstrução ao fluxo aéreo determinado pela espirometria em: normal ao exame espirométrico (n=31) e com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (n=31). Pela FOT foram analisados os parâmetros relacionados às propriedades resistivas do sistema respiratório R0 (resistência no intercepto), Rm (resistência média) e S (inclinação da reta de resistência). R0 e Rm aumentaram com a obstrução ao fluxo aéreo (p<0,002 e p<0,02, respectivamente) e S apresentou redução (p<0,0007) caracterizando, este último, aumento da não-homogeneidade do sistema respiratório. Observou- se uma redução nos parâmetros relacionados às propriedades reativas do sistema respiratório, Cdin,sr (complacência dinâmica, p<0,03) e Xm (reatância média, p<0,02) com o aumento da obstrução. Também foi analisado o módulo da impedância em 4 Hz (&#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472;), parâmetro relacionado com a carga mecânica total no sistema respiratório, que mostrou- se aumentado com a obstrução(p<0,001). Na análise do desempenho diagnóstico, os parâmetros R0, Rm, Cdin,sr e &#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472; apresentaram área sob a Curva (AUC), sensibilidade (Se) e especificidade (Sp) adequados ao uso clínico no grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve. Estes valores foram mais elevados do que no grupo de crianças asmáticas normais ao exame espirometrico, o que está relacionado com as maiores alterações no grupo com obstrutrução leve. A resposta broncodilatadora foi estudada observando- se as diferenças dentro do mesmo grupo de crianças e mensurando as alterações em cada grupo antes e após o uso do broncodilatador. Os parâmetros relacionados às propriedades resistivas, R0, Rm e S apresentaram melhora significativa com redução das resistências no grupo controle (p<0,00001, p<0,0003 e 0,00001), normal ao exame espirometrico (p<0,000002, p<0,00008 e 0,0006) e grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0,0001, p<0,0007 e 0,000001). Estas alterações ocorreram no grupo controle e nos grupos de crianças asmáticas. Crs,din e Xm também apresentaram alterações significativas em todos os grupos estudados: no grupo controle (p<0,0001, p<0,00001), normal ao exame (p<0,00006, p<0,00001) e no grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0,0001, p<0,00001), fato também observado na análise de &#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472; no grupo controle (p<0,00001), normal ao exame (p<0,00001) e grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0, 00001). Concluímos que a asma introduz alterações nos parâmetros resistivos e reativos do sistema respiratório com o aumento do grau de obstrução ao fluxo aéreo. Essas alterações foram identificadas nas crianças com obstrução leve. A FOT detectou as alterações ocorridas após a utilização da medicação broncodilatadora. Estes resultados indicam que a FOT pode ser um exame sensível para avaliar as alterações fisiopatológicas decorrentes da asma em crianças. / The increase of our knowledge about changes in respiratory mechanics and response to bronchodilator use in asthmatic children may contribute to a better understanding of this disease. The forced oscillation technique (FOT) has high potential in this sense, since it allows a detailed assessment of respiratory mechanics in asthmatic children. Thus, the objectives of this study are: (1) increase our understanding of the changes in respiratory mechanics of asthma in children, (2) investigate the clinical potential of FOT and (3) analyze the changes in respiratory mechanics resulting from bronchodilator response in asthmatic children. The present study examined 93 children, separated in the control group (n=31) and the asthmatic group divided according to the degree of airflow obstruction determined by spirometry in normal spirometry results (n=31) and with mild airway obstruction (n=31). Using the FOT we analyzed parameters related to the resistance of the respiratory system R0 (intercept resistance), Rm (resistance average) and S (slope of the resistance). R0 and Rm increased with airflow obstruction (p<0.002 and p<0.02, respectively) and S decreased (p<0.0007), indicating increased respiratory system non-homogeneity. There was a reduction in parameters related to the reactive properties of the respiratory system, Cst,sr (dynamic compliance, p<0.03) and Xm (reactance average, p<0,001) with increasing obstruction. The module of the respiratory system impedance at 4 Hz (| Zrs4Hz |) was also studied. This parameter is related to the total mechanical load on the respiratory system, and increased significantly with obstruction (p<0,001). Analyzing the diagnostic performance of FOT parameters, R0, Rm, Cst,sr and |Zrs4Hz| presented adequate values for clinical use in the identification of mild airway obstruction (AUC>0.7). These values were higher than that observed in the identification of the normal to the spirometric exam group, which may be related to the higher modifications in the group of children with mild airway obstruction. The bronchodilator response was studied by observing the differences within the same group of children, measuring the changes in each group before and after bronchodilator use. The parameters related to the resistance, R0, Rm and S showed significant improvement indicating reduced resistance in control group (p<0.00001,p<0.0003 e 0.00001), normal spirometry results (p<0.000002, p<0.00008 e 0.0006) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.0001, p<0.0007 e 0.000001). These changes occurred in the control group and groups of children with asthma. Crs,din and Xm also showed significant changes in all groups studied in control group p<0.0001, p<0.00001), normal spirometry results (p<0.00006, p<0.00001) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.0001, p<0.00001), a fact also observed in the analysis of | Zrs4Hz |, with showed a significant decrease in control group (p<0.00001), normal spirometry results(p<0.00001) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.00001). We conclude that the increase of the degree of airflow obstruction in asthmatic children introduces increases in the resistance of the respiratory system, reductions in the dynamic compliance, reduction in homogeneity, as well as increase in the total respiratory system mechanical load. The FOT is able to detect respiratory changes in patients with mild airway obstruction. The use of bronchodilator medication introduces changes in asthmatic children, as well as in normal children. The results of the present study indicate that the FOT can be a sensitive test to evaluate the changes associated with asthma in children.

O aprofundamento de nosso conhecimento acerca das alterações da mecânica respiratória e da resposta ao uso do broncodilatador em crianças com asma pode contribuir para o melhor entendimento desta doença. A técnica de oscilações forçadas (FOT) apresenta elevado potencial neste sentido, pois permite uma avaliação detalhada da mecânica respiratória de crianças asmáticas. Desta maneira, os objetivos deste estudo são: (1) aprofundar nosso conhecimento sobre as alterações de mecânica respiratória em crianças asmáticas; (2) investigar o potencial de utilização clínica da FOT e (3) analisar as alterações de mecânica respiratória decorrentes da resposta broncodilatadora em crianças asmáticas. No presente estudo foram analisadas 93 crianças, separadas em grupo controle (n=31) e grupo de crianças asmáticas divididas de acordo com o grau de obstrução ao fluxo aéreo determinado pela espirometria em: normal ao exame espirométrico (n=31) e com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (n=31). Pela FOT foram analisados os parâmetros relacionados às propriedades resistivas do sistema respiratório R0 (resistência no intercepto), Rm (resistência média) e S (inclinação da reta de resistência). R0 e Rm aumentaram com a obstrução ao fluxo aéreo (p<0,002 e p<0,02, respectivamente) e S apresentou redução (p<0,0007) caracterizando, este último, aumento da não-homogeneidade do sistema respiratório. Observou- se uma redução nos parâmetros relacionados às propriedades reativas do sistema respiratório, Cdin,sr (complacência dinâmica, p<0,03) e Xm (reatância média, p<0,02) com o aumento da obstrução. Também foi analisado o módulo da impedância em 4 Hz (&#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472;), parâmetro relacionado com a carga mecânica total no sistema respiratório, que mostrou- se aumentado com a obstrução(p<0,001). Na análise do desempenho diagnóstico, os parâmetros R0, Rm, Cdin,sr e &#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472; apresentaram área sob a Curva (AUC), sensibilidade (Se) e especificidade (Sp) adequados ao uso clínico no grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve. Estes valores foram mais elevados do que no grupo de crianças asmáticas normais ao exame espirometrico, o que está relacionado com as maiores alterações no grupo com obstrutrução leve. A resposta broncodilatadora foi estudada observando- se as diferenças dentro do mesmo grupo de crianças e mensurando as alterações em cada grupo antes e após o uso do broncodilatador. Os parâmetros relacionados às propriedades resistivas, R0, Rm e S apresentaram melhora significativa com redução das resistências no grupo controle (p<0,00001, p<0,0003 e 0,00001), normal ao exame espirometrico (p<0,000002, p<0,00008 e 0,0006) e grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0,0001, p<0,0007 e 0,000001). Estas alterações ocorreram no grupo controle e nos grupos de crianças asmáticas. Crs,din e Xm também apresentaram alterações significativas em todos os grupos estudados: no grupo controle (p<0,0001, p<0,00001), normal ao exame (p<0,00006, p<0,00001) e no grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0,0001, p<0,00001), fato também observado na análise de &#1472;Zrs4Hz&#1472; no grupo controle (p<0,00001), normal ao exame (p<0,00001) e grupo com distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo leve (p<0, 00001). Concluímos que a asma introduz alterações nos parâmetros resistivos e reativos do sistema respiratório com o aumento do grau de obstrução ao fluxo aéreo. Essas alterações foram identificadas nas crianças com obstrução leve. A FOT detectou as alterações ocorridas após a utilização da medicação broncodilatadora. Estes resultados indicam que a FOT pode ser um exame sensível para avaliar as alterações fisiopatológicas decorrentes da asma em crianças. / The increase of our knowledge about changes in respiratory mechanics and response to bronchodilator use in asthmatic children may contribute to a better understanding of this disease. The forced oscillation technique (FOT) has high potential in this sense, since it allows a detailed assessment of respiratory mechanics in asthmatic children. Thus, the objectives of this study are: (1) increase our understanding of the changes in respiratory mechanics of asthma in children, (2) investigate the clinical potential of FOT and (3) analyze the changes in respiratory mechanics resulting from bronchodilator response in asthmatic children. The present study examined 93 children, separated in the control group (n=31) and the asthmatic group divided according to the degree of airflow obstruction determined by spirometry in normal spirometry results (n=31) and with mild airway obstruction (n=31). Using the FOT we analyzed parameters related to the resistance of the respiratory system R0 (intercept resistance), Rm (resistance average) and S (slope of the resistance). R0 and Rm increased with airflow obstruction (p<0.002 and p<0.02, respectively) and S decreased (p<0.0007), indicating increased respiratory system non-homogeneity. There was a reduction in parameters related to the reactive properties of the respiratory system, Cst,sr (dynamic compliance, p<0.03) and Xm (reactance average, p<0,001) with increasing obstruction. The module of the respiratory system impedance at 4 Hz (| Zrs4Hz |) was also studied. This parameter is related to the total mechanical load on the respiratory system, and increased significantly with obstruction (p<0,001). Analyzing the diagnostic performance of FOT parameters, R0, Rm, Cst,sr and |Zrs4Hz| presented adequate values for clinical use in the identification of mild airway obstruction (AUC>0.7). These values were higher than that observed in the identification of the normal to the spirometric exam group, which may be related to the higher modifications in the group of children with mild airway obstruction. The bronchodilator response was studied by observing the differences within the same group of children, measuring the changes in each group before and after bronchodilator use. The parameters related to the resistance, R0, Rm and S showed significant improvement indicating reduced resistance in control group (p<0.00001,p<0.0003 e 0.00001), normal spirometry results (p<0.000002, p<0.00008 e 0.0006) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.0001, p<0.0007 e 0.000001). These changes occurred in the control group and groups of children with asthma. Crs,din and Xm also showed significant changes in all groups studied in control group p<0.0001, p<0.00001), normal spirometry results (p<0.00006, p<0.00001) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.0001, p<0.00001), a fact also observed in the analysis of | Zrs4Hz |, with showed a significant decrease in control group (p<0.00001), normal spirometry results(p<0.00001) and with mild airway obstruction (p<0.00001). We conclude that the increase of the degree of airflow obstruction in asthmatic children introduces increases in the resistance of the respiratory system, reductions in the dynamic compliance, reduction in homogeneity, as well as increase in the total respiratory system mechanical load. The FOT is able to detect respiratory changes in patients with mild airway obstruction. The use of bronchodilator medication introduces changes in asthmatic children, as well as in normal children. The results of the present study indicate that the FOT can be a sensitive test to evaluate the changes associated with asthma in children.

Bibliography: pages 103-119. / The aims of this study were (a) to examine the profile of hospital admissions for selected respiratory illnesses for two major hospitals in Cape Town, and (b) to analyse the association of such admissions with air pollution indicators and meteorological variables. The first part of the study investigated the admission patterns of coloured and African children under twelve years of age who were diagnosed as suffering from asthma or acute respiratory infections at two major teaching hospitals in Cape Town. Computerized hospital admission records covering the years 1988-1990 from the overnight holding wards of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital were used to determine patterns with respect to diagnosis, gender, race, age and date of admission. During the three year study period, respiratory admissions at both hospitals accounted for 15 078 (47.3%) out of a total of 31 887 admissions. Acute respiratory infections accounted for 63.6% and asthma 37.4 % of these respiratory admissions. Two factors of interest were noted: (1) Considerably more males than females were admitted with both asthma and acute respiratory infections. (2) Asthma admissions to Red Cross Hospital among African children were proportionally much less than those of coloured children when compared to the proportions of admissions for acute respiratory infections. After removal of the seasonal effect, a multiple linear regression model was fitted to the data to determine the individual associations between admissions and ambient environmental variables. Significant associations were found between: (1) acute respiratory infections and oxides of nitrogen, soiling index, and temperature; (2) asthma and oxides of nitrogen (3) total admissions and soiling index, average temperature and minimum temperature (negative). The study concluded that despite generally low levels of air pollution in Cape Town, childhood respiratory admissions to Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital were statistically significantly associated with some ambient air pollutants as well as temperature. However, given the nature of both the exposure and admissions databases, these results should be treated with caution. More representative site selections for air pollution monitors, as well as searching and controlling for possible confounding factors (i.e. indoor air pollution, parental smoking, overcrowding), would allow a better understanding of the current air pollution problem and the possible effects on the respiratory health of children in metropolitan Cape Town.

Abstract not available

Indoor air quality has become an important health concern due to the number of indoor pollutants and the realization that even minimal exposures to volatile organic compounds may produce direct or indirect adverse health outcomes. Young people are most vulnerable to these poisonous chemicals as they spend much of their times indoors at homes, schools, nurseries and in day care centers. Exposure to volatile organic compounds indoors has been related to asthma and other respiratory symptoms. The adverse effects of air pollution on respiratory health in South Durban have been described in a number of studies. In 2000, a study in the South Durban Basin at Settlers Primary School demonstrated both a high prevalence of respiratory diseases amongst schoolchildren as well as an association between ambient air pollutants and other adverse health outcomes. The South Durban Health Study subsequently undertook a health risk assessment and an epidemiological study investigating this association further on behalf of the eThekwini Municipality. The study highlighted that relatively moderate ambient concentration of N02, NO, PMIO and S02 were strongly and significantly associated with a reduction in lung function among children with persistent asthma. Moreover, attending primary school in South Durban was significantly associated with increased risk from persistent asthma when compared to schools in North Durban. METHODS The descriptive study measured the total volatile organic compound levels within selected homes and schools of asthmatic children in South and North Durban. Recommendations for reducing or mitigating indoor total volatile organic compound exposures were made. The study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the South Durban Health Study. The monitoring for total volatile organic compounds within homes and classrooms was undertaken using passive samplers during a 72-hour period and analyzed using a gaschromatography/ mass spectrometry method. Temperature and humidity was assessed using temperature and humidity sensors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 13. The dataset comprised 140 total volatile organic compound samples from homes and 14 from classrooms. Total volatile organic compounds were measured in microgram per cubic meter (g/m3), temperature in degrees Celsius and relative humidity in percentage of moisture. RESULTS Total volatile organic compounds with levels in households ranging from 17g/m3 to 1440g/m3 and in classrooms ranging from 48g/m3 to 5292g/m3 were measured. The mean levels detected were significantly different in homes and classrooms / Thesis (MMed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

[Truncated abstract] Despite significant scientific advances in tracking the complex physiological mechanisms that drive the asthma disease process, worldwide trends in childhood asthma continue to rise. This research sought to describe the relationships between psychosocial stress, psychosocial resources, asthma severity, and health-related outcomes from the standpoints of biopsychosocial and developmental theory. The research consisted of three studies based on a prospective study involving 2573 children from a community-based birth cohort. The cohort has been under active follow-up from birth and this thesis draws on data obtained at the 1, 2, 6, 10 and 13 year follow-ups . . . The final study undertook to describe the mediating influence of specific supportive behaviours provided by family members and peers to adolescents with asthma. Ninety-nine adolescents participating in the 13 year follow-up of the community cohort study completed a semi-structured interview adapted from the Diabetes Social Support Interview (La Greca et al., 1995) to assess supportive behaviours and the KINDL (Ravens-Sieberer & Bullinger, 1998) to assess QOL. It was predicted that illness-specific support would mediate the relationship between family dysfunction and quality of life. Qualitative analyses identified parents as important sources of tangible support, peers as important sources of companionship and emotional support, and siblings bridging the two, by providing tangible, companionship and emotional support to the adolescent. Mediator analyses found that specific parent behaviours perceived as unsupportive by the adolescent mediated the relationship between family dysfunction and self-oriented quality of life. Clinical implications support the integration of medical and psychological expertise in the treatment of asthma. Future research directions are also discussed.

The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate GPs' practices, perceptions, and beliefs with regard to chronic childhood asthma management and to identify GPs' attitudes towards practice guidelines in particular the SACAWG (South African Childhood Asthma Work Group) guideline (Motala et al., 2000). In 2001 a single period cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 GPs in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM) which comprised the Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, and Despatch regions. GPs in clinical practice in the NMM were identified from the register of the Health Professions Council (HPC) CD-ROM (2000). The register contains names and professional information on all physicians in South Africa who have completed or in the process of completing requirements to practice medicine. GPs meeting the following criteria were identified: (1) primary self-designated practice specialty of general practice; (2) practice location in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, and Despatch areas; and (3) engaged in direct patient care. The HPC register contained listings for 300 GPs that matched the study criteria. Data were collected by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaires with a return envelope were mailed to the GPs' practices. Questionnaires were returned by 89 of the 300 eligible NMM GPs, reflecting a 29,7 % response rate. A 43-item Chronic Childhood Asthma Management questionnaire was developed and validated to assess the delivery of asthma care by GPs in the NMM. Forty-four per cent of the respondents reported performing spirometry on patients with newly diagnosed asthma as part of their initial evaluation. For patients with moderate persistent asthma prescribing of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) varied by patient age, with 57,4% of physicians routinely prescribing them for patients < 5 years, compared with 76,5% of physicians prescribing them for patients 5 years. Awareness of the SACAWG guidelines among these GPs was high, with 76,8% reporting that they have heard of the guidelines, and 59,4% reporting having read them. 14,5 per cent of the GPs reported developing written treatment plans for patients with moderate or severe asthma. To achieve the best results with their asthma patients, 68,1% of the physicians reported that patient compliance was imperative, 49,3% reported education as the most important, pharmacotherapy / good products was reported as most important by 29,0% of the group, environmental control was cited by 18,8% of the GPs. Several aspects of the SACAWG guidelines appear to have been incorporated into clinical practice by GPs in the NMM, whereas other recommendations do not appear to have been readily adopted. This information suggests areas for intervention to improve primary care for asthma in the NMM.

The present study explored the interaction between paediatric asthma and family functioning, within the context of family systems theory. Eight families, each with an asthmatic child between the ages of 8 and 15, were included in this study. In each case, the parents were interviewed and completed a quantitative measure, the Family Assessment Device, The results indicated that each family has a unique way of functioning and of integrating the child's asthma into its lifestyle. Factors found to be involved in the mutual impact of paediatric asthma and family functioning were the size of the family, the severity of the child's condition, the ways in which the family copes with the stress of asthma, communication patterns between parents, compliance with family rules and boundaries, and the affective responsiveness and involvement of family members. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The present study explored the interaction between paediatric asthma and family functioning, within the context of family systems theory. Eight families, each with an asthmatic child between the ages of 8 and 15, were included in this study. In each case, the parents were interviewed and completed a quantitative measure, the Family Assessment Device, The results indicated that each family has a unique way of functioning and of integrating the child's asthma into its lifestyle. Factors found to be involved in the mutual impact of paediatric asthma and family functioning were the size of the family, the severity of the child's condition, the ways in which the family copes with the stress of asthma, communication patterns between parents, compliance with family rules and boundaries, and the affective responsiveness and involvement of family members. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)