Associations Between Parental Health Literacy, Use of Asthma Management Plans, and Child's Asthma Control.

BACKGROUND: There are some studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the provision of written asthma action plans in improving asthma outcomes. There exist little data on the ability of parents to use these plans to make asthma care decisions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between parental health literacy (HL), parental ability to use a written asthma management plan (WAMP), and child's asthma control. METHODS: Parents completed a survey with questions related to WAMPs and child's asthma, a HL screening tool, and 5 asthma vignettes. For vignettes, parents identified asthma control zone and then made decisions about asthma management. WAMP scores were totaled (0-32) and converted to a percent correct score. Associations between parental HL, WAMP scores, child's asthma control, and demographics were determined with independent t tests or 1-way analysis of variance, and chi-square tests. Variables significantly associated with WAMP scores or asthma control were included in multiple logistic regression or multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 176 surveys were included; the mean ± SD WAMP score was 58.9% ± 22.2%, and 25% of respondents had limited HL. Of respondents' children, 38% had not well/poorly controlled asthma. In multiple regression analysis controlling for education level, limited HL was significantly associated with WAMP score (b = 11.3, standard error 3.8, P = .004). WAMP score was not associated with asthma control. Limited HL was associated with poor asthma control in univariate analysis, but not in a logistic regression model controlling for other significant variables. Only unmarried marital status (adjusted odds ratio 4.4, 95% CI 1.8-10.8, P = .001) was associated with asthma control. CONCLUSION: HL is associated with parental ability to use WAMPs to respond to asthma scenarios. Parental HL may play a role in parents' ability to appropriately use WAMPs.

Contemporary topics in pediatric pulmonology for the primary care clinician.

Disorders of the respiratory system are commonly encountered in the primary care setting. The presentations are myriad and this review will discuss some of the more intriguing or vexing disorders that the clinician must evaluate and treat. Among these are dyspnea, chronic cough, chest pain, wheezing, and asthma. Dyspnea and chest pain have a spectrum ranging from benign to serious, and the ability to effectively form a differential diagnosis is critical for reassurance and treatment, along with decisions on when to refer for specialist evaluation. Chronic cough is one of the more common reasons for primary care office visits, and once again, a proper differential diagnosis is necessary to assist the clinician in formulating an appropriate treatment plan. Infant wheezing creates much anxiety for parents and accounts for a large number of office visits and hospital admissions. Common diagnoses and evaluation strategies of early childhood wheezing are reviewed. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of children and adults. The epidemiology, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and the patient/parent education process will be reviewed. A relatively new topic for primary care clinicians is cystic fibrosis newborn screening. The rationale, methods, outcomes, and implications will be reviewed. This screening program may present some challenges for clinicians caring for newborns, and an understanding of the screening process will help the clinician communicate effectively with parents of the patient.

Pediatric lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis in an HIV-negative child with pulmonary Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) in children has been most commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated LIP without HIV infection has been reported only in adults. EBV associated LIP has been reported in children, but only with concurrent HIV infection. We report a case of EBV associated, HIV negative LIP in a child.