Randomized controlled trial to enhance psychosocial adjustment of asthmatic childern

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a psychosocial patient education program on the psychological adjustment of asthmatic children between 11 and 18 years old. One hundred children attending the outpatient health insurance clinic were randomly selected and randomized to experimental and control groups. Children's asthma knowledge, self-esteem, asthma severity and psychological adjustment were assessed for both groups before and after the intervention. An intervention program was developed and introduced to the experimental group. The program consisted of sixteen sessions of Information giving and cognitive-behavioral strategies for the children. The results revealed significant differences in the mean percentage change of the intervention and control groups regarding self-esteem, knowledge and asthma severity [Z=2.83, Z=4.75 and Z=2.24 respectively, P< 0.05]. Statistical significant differences were found between the mean percentage change of the intervention and control groups regarding, dependency, hostility, productivity and withdrawal domains as well as the total PARS Ill score. In conclusion, the study demonstrated positive effect of the intervention in promoting the adjustment of asthmatic children. It is suggested that similar interventions can be directed to children with any chronic illness and can be implemented in a variety of pediatric settings

Violence among schoolchildren in Alexandria

Violent behaviour among school students and its predictors were investigated. Selected children [2170] were requested to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Initiating violent assaults in the 18 months prior to the study was reported by 51.0% of boys and 20.9% of girls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis pointed to 16 predictive variables for violent behaviour; few were related to family background whereas the majority were related to the children themselves. Violent assaults were more likely to be initiated by boys and those who were dangerously daring and risk-takers, often fought verbally, threatened to attack others, were cruel to animals, disrupted class discipline, were truant from school or ran away from home and were disciplined by corporal punishment by their parents and their teachers. School-based prevention and intervention programmes addressing modifiable predictors should be considered