Date of this Version

12-11-2021

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Abstract

In the pediatric population, asthma is the most common chronic disease, and the most common cause of acute hospitalizations. A review of literature was completed to find a clear correlation between increased knowledge, reinforcement, feedback, and better asthma control. It is postulated that an emphasis on increasing parental/legal guardian knowledge on asthma management and treatment could increase parental/legal guardian confidence and competence in caring for a child with an acute asthma exacerbation, while addressing parental/legal guardian needs in terms of health literacy. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aimed to increase parental/legal guardian competence and confidence in managing their child’s asthma after an education session. The goals include decreased urgent care/emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as well as decreased morbidity and mortality for the child. This QI project was completed using pre-test/post-test survey method with an asthma educational session in between, completed by ten participants, which were parents/legal guardians of a child with an existing asthma diagnosis presenting to the urgent care center with an acute exacerbation. The intervention was a 15-minute educational session that discussed basic asthma pathophysiology, risk factors of asthma exacerbations, early assessment of an acute exacerbation, and early intervention with medications at the onset of an exacerbation. A total of 10 parents/legal guardians participated in the study. Participants completed a pretest, they partook in an educational intervention, and completed a posttest. A samples paired t-test was conducted to determine if there was a knowledge change among participants on asthma management in their child. Results showed an increase in the participants’ mean knowledge scores from 4 to 7. Health education to parents/legal guardians was found to increase their comprehension and confidence in understanding the management of their child’s asthma. Assessing parents/legal guardians health literacy prior to education is crucial for the health care provider to understand what type of education will be most effective in transmitting information to each individual. This effort can result in decreased urgent care/emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as well as decreased morbidity and mortality for the child.

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