Evaluation of Self - Care Practices of Asthmatic Children at Suez Canal University Hospitals.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood; it is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by recurrent reversible airway obstruction leads to airway hyper reactivity, which causes the airways to narrow. Aim of the study: to evaluate self-care practices of asthmatic children. Research design: A descriptive research design was used in the study. Setting: The study was conducted at pediatric Emergency Department and pediatric Outpatient Clinic at Suez Canal University Hospitals. The study subjects: included purposive sample of school aged children (40) with their accompanying mothers. Tools for data collection: Two tools were used; a structured interview questionnaire sheet, and observational checklists to assess studied children's knowledge and self-care practices regarding bronchial asthma. Results: The total mean score of satisfactory knowledge of studied asthmatic children was 11.3 ± 5.5 (71%) and the total mean score of satisfactory self -care practice of asthmatic children was 8.76% (x̄ ± SD 5.5±2.19). Conclusion: The level of asthmatic children's knowledge was satisfactory but their self -care practices were unsatisfactory. Recommendations: Periodically assessment of factors affecting self- care practices for asthmatic children