Asthma as a child: continuous attentiveness to breathing to participate in everyday activities - need for support.

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. This study explores the experiences of participating in everyday activities among children with asthma. The study employed a qualitative design and was grounded in a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with four children aged 9-12 diagnosed with asthma. One theme was 'heavy breathing stopping the body in motion', and subthemes were as follows: 'experiencing intrusive wheezing', 'calming one's breath to participate' and 'being sick and refraining from participating'. Another theme was 'help in everyday life and support to participate', and subthemes were as follows: 'taking the necessary asthma medicine', 'being understood and met as sick' and 'adapting one's leisure activities'. To participate in everyday activities, children with asthma require insight into and an understanding of the importance of taking asthma medicine as recommended. They also need help in everyday life and support to participate in everyday activities. Children taking care of their own illnesses and listening to their bodies provide them with the greatest degree of participation in activities in their everyday lives. These findings represent an important contribution to the understanding of nursing care for children with asthma.