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Abstract
Respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma in children and adolescents, constitute a global public health problem. Educational strategies are an important tool for their control.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of a health literacy program for the care and self-management of respiratory diseases and bronchial asthma after five years of implementation.
Patients and Method: Prospective cohort study, non-probabilistic sample, and consecutive selection of patients < 17 years of age with asthma, recurrent bronchial obstructive syndrome, recurrent wheezing, or bronchiolitis, referred to the respiratory diseases literacy program in a pediatric hospital in Colombia during 2015-2020. Clinical, drug use, epidemiological history, risk exposures, and individual well-being data were collected. The impact was evaluated with the indicator of admission to the emergency room for resolution of respiratory crises, knowledge of the disease, and general well-being six months after leaving the program.
Results: 2841 patients were included, mean age 7 years, 55% were male, and 86% had previous management by a pediatrician. 54% of a sedentary lifestyle, 48% of adherence to treatment, 66% of prevalence of at-home risk factors, and 11% of tobacco smoke exposure were detected. On leaving the program, parents reported good knowledge of the disease (99.7%), with a decrease in the number of admissions to the emergency department for crisis management from 25.4% to 6.3%. Health wellbeing showed an increase in the absence of negative feelings of sadness, upset, or anxiety generated by cough attacks from 53.3% to 72.5% (p = 0.006), sleep disturbances decreased by 20% (p = 0.059), the practice of physical activity increased by 14.6% (p = 0.030), and the feeling that the disease no longer controlled the lives of parents and children increased from 59% to 75.9% (p = 0.113).
Conclusions: The literacy program improved health outcomes, general well-being, and empowered and promoted better self-management skills in children and caregivers.
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