RESUMEN
ObjectivesTo study the effect of community interventions and management on asthma in children and its impact on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP)of parents and the home environment.MethodsAn asthma health management profile of 0 to 14-year-old asthmatic children (n =93 ) in Sanlitun and Liulitun communities in Chaoyang District in Beijing was established.The children were randomly divided into a management group ( n =49) and control group ( n =44 ) based on community.Community-integrated management,such as regular follow-up,condition monitoring and health education,was implemented in the asthmatic children in the management group but not in the control group.The parents' KAP and the household environment in the two groups were compared after 1 year based on the changes shown in the health management profile.ResultsThe asthma relapse rate decreased to 27.9％ (12/43) in the management group.Compared with the control group,the rates of hospitalization (x2 =8.174,P =0.004) and school absences ( x2 =4.962,P =0.026) significantly decreased.The KAP level of parents increased to 67.4％ ( 29/43 ) in the management group and 20.4％ (9/44) in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =19.517,P ＜0.01 ).Knowledge improved the most and showed a significant difference from the control group ( x2 =19.517,P ＜0.01 ).Home environment in the management group improved to 76.7％ (33/43).The number of indoor pets ( x2 =3.906,P =0.048) and indoor cockroaches ( x2 =4.962,P =0.026 ) reduced and showed significant differences between the two groups.In addition,children's allergy-related symptoms decreased to 30.2％ ( 13/43 ) in the management group compared with 9.1％ (4/44) in the control group,which was a significant difference ( x2 =6.183,P =0.013).ConclusionsParents' knowledge of asthma,compliance behaviors,and home environmentwere effectively improved through community-integrated management.This management technique can reduce the allergy-related symptoms of asthmatic children,improve asthma severity,and reduce the influence of asthma on children's daily lives.