ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a health problem both in Cuba and throughout the world. Emotional factors play an important role in triggering asthma attacks and in worsening the disorder. The impact of an educational program was evaluated, with regards to emotional factors and the attitude of asthmatic children, adolescents and their parents, for achieving better control of their disease. METHOD: a prospective intervention longitudinal study was conducted at the Juan Manuel Marquez Pediatric Hospital which grouped all participants who attended the last two meetings of the School for Asthmatic Children, Adolescents and their Parents. Data was collected from the medical records of patients and a validated questionnaire was applied at the beginning of the educational program and six month later. RESULTS: The study showed that at the end of the educational program, 78.9% of the patients were classified as intermittent asthmatics. There was also a significant reduction of the emotional factors during exacerbations, with a relative change of 53.9%. Limitation for participating in daily activities was 45.4% and parents' negative attitudes totaled 44.3%. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the educational intervention, both patients and parents were able to correct their way of handling emotions and attitudes related with asthma, with the subsequent health improvement and a better control of the disease.
