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The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) amongst asthmatic children and their families: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

Asthmatic children are at risk of compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL) compared with their healthy peers. This systematic review reports the range and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to improve HRQOL amongst asthmatic children, adolescents, and their families.

Method

Data sources included The Cochrane Airways Group Trials Register of trials, PubMed database, and reference lists from review articles.

Results

Eighteen studies of psychosocial interventions were identified. Interventions were designed to improve HRQOL amongst a range of psychosocial, health care, school-related and clinical outcomes, and were delivered in numerous settings and formats. Four studies reported that interventions were effective for significant improvements in child overall HRQOL scores. These include asthma education (n = 2), asthma education plus problem solving (n = 1), and art therapy (n = 1).

Conclusions

Most interventions focussed on the delivery of asthma education to children, with the purpose of improving knowledge about asthma and disease management. There is limited evidence to suggest that interventions currently available are effective for significantly improving HRQOL amongst asthmatic children, adolescents, and their families. Most interventions lacked a theoretical basis and did not focus on family functioning variables. Multi-component interventions that incorporate asthma education along with strategies to assist families with implementing behaviour change towards improved asthma management are required. Future interventions should also attempt to address the wider context of family functioning likely to contribute to the family’s ability to engage in successful asthma management in order to improve HRQOL.

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Abbreviations

HRQOL:

Health-related quality of life

RCTs:

Randomised controlled trials

RAP:

The ‘Roaring adventures of Puff’ Asthma Education Programme

PAQOL:

The juniper paediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire

PACQOL:

The juniper paediatric asthma caregiver quality of life questionnaire

CAQ:

The childhood asthma questionnaires

PedsQL:

Pediatric quality of life inventory TM

SCAMP:

School care and asthma management project

SCT:

Social cognitive theory

PRECEDE:

Pre-disposing, reinforcing, and enabling causes in educational diagnosis and evaluation

IHCWs:

Australian indigenous health care workers

PAG:

Adapted paediatric asthma guidelines

AEW:

Asthma education workshops

OAP:

Open airways’ for pre-teens

PA2:

Peer asthma action

CC:

Care coordination

PST:

Problem solving skills training

IMPACT:

Interactive multi-media program for asthma control and tracking

FU:

Follow-up data collection

SES:

Socio-economic status

GP:

General practitioner

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Sally-Ann Clarke & Rachel Calam

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Correspondence to Sally-Ann Clarke.

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Clarke, SA., Calam, R. The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) amongst asthmatic children and their families: a systematic review. Qual Life Res 21, 747–764 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9996-2

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