Relationships between Peak Expiratory Flow and Psychological Feelings related to Daily School Life in Individuals with a Medical History of Bronchial Asthma in Upper Elementary School: A case study

This study surveyed the relationship between the pulmonary function index and psychological feelings in elementary school students with a medical history of bronchial asthma (MHA). Twenty-six students had MHA (=Asthma group; age 11.4 ± 0.5 years) and 73 did not (=Non-asthma group; age 11.4 ± 0.5 years). The measurements included the ratio of the peak expiratory flow (PEF) to the predicted normal value (%PEF) and questions on psychological feelings related to daily school life. The %PEF was significantly lower in Asthma group than in non-asthma group with significant negative correlations between %PEF and "Are you satisfied with your daily life," "Do you like yourself," "Are you good at sports," and "Do you like physical education" in Asthma group and no significant correlation between %PEF and any of the questions in Non-asthma group. Results suggest that, in the evaluation of PEF during daily school life, it may be possible to infer not only an objective understanding of asthma conditions, however, also psychological feelings related to daily school life in MHA.