Avaliação do conhecimento sobre asma em adolescentes asmáticos

Abstract

Objectives: To assess knowledge about asthma among adolescents from public and private schools, in order to outline their profile. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 51 schools, reaching a sample of 87 adolescents with asthma. Three questionnaires were applied and 64 asthmatic adolescents underwent spirometry. In order to evaluate the students’ level of knowledge, Birnbaum’s three-parameter logistic model was used, based on Item Response Theory (IRT). Results: The average score of knowlodge was 52.3 (SD±10.32). The questions with lower percentages of correct answers mentioned conceptual and therapeutic aspects of the disease and environmental triggers. The factors associated with higher scores of knowledge were: higher education level among the adolescents or their parents, origin from private school, report of receiving previous orientation about the disease and FEV1/FVC < 0.8. Conclusions: Lower percentages of correct answers about different aspects of asthma were identified among asthmatic adolescents. The profile of adolescents who presented higher knowledge included origin from private schools, report of previous orientation about asthma, lower FEV1/FVC index and higher education level among their parents.