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Problem-solving instruction: Examining its effect on the control of childhood asthma
Abstract
This quasi experimental study attempted to determine whether problem solving skills needed by families for effective management of childhood asthma could be strengthened through direct cognitive strategy instruction. The problem solving instruction was added to a routine clinic-provided asthma educational program. An aim was to devise an instructional strategy for improving families' problem solving skills without requiring additional return visits for strictly educational purposes. Subjects included children aged 15 years or younger diagnosed with asthma who were making their first visit to the selected clinic, and their accompanying parent. Of the 42 families completing the study, 21 received the additional problem solving instruction and 21 received only the routinely provided asthma education. Outcome measures included the families' record of the child's asthma symptoms for 4 one-month periods following the instruction, Health Locus of Control scores and self-efficacy measures obtained pre-instruction and four months post-instruction for the participating parent, as well as the Children's Health Locus of Control measure for children age 7 years and above. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no difference between groups in symptom control, but symptoms decreased significantly over time (p =.002) with fewer symptoms reported at four months than at one month. The problem solving instruction had no significant effect on Health Locus of Control for parents or children nor upon self-efficacy ratings by parents. A 2 $\times$ 2 fixed analysis of variance (group by locus of control) of asthma symptoms revealed a significant interaction, p =.004. The experimental group children whose parents had an "external" locus of control had a significantly greater decrease in symptoms than either experimental children with "internal" parents or control group children with "external" parents. The problem solving instruction, sampling technique, and data collection procedures are examined with suggestions for modification and recommendations for further study.
Subject Area
Educational psychology|Health education|Nursing
Recommended Citation
Heermann, Judith Ann, "Problem-solving instruction: Examining its effect on the control of childhood asthma" (1988). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8911113.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8911113