J Asthma. 2025 Nov 19:1-26. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2025.2592241. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Asthma affects approximately 24.9 million people in the United States, including 4.7 million children. However, limited research has explored how parents manage pediatric asthma in relation to air quality. In this study, we examine parental perception of air quality and pediatric asthma management among families living in Cache Valley, Utah. In addition, we explore the association between the residents’ perception of local air quality and their asthma-related health concerns.
METHODS: We used data drawn from in-depth interviews conducted between August to November 2019 using a semi-structured interview guide. All the interviews were transcribed, cleaned for accuracy, and coded for thematic analysis. We applied the Socio-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework to capture different factors operating at multiple levels (such as individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, policy level) of influence.
RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of participants reported a family history of asthma, and 76 percent reported their child received medical treatment for asthma. Nearly half (48 percent) noted that asthma interfered with their child’s daily activities, and 52 percent reported modifying behavior in response to daily air-quality reports.
CONCLUSION: The socio-ecological model offers a comprehensive framework for understanding pediatric asthma management, encompassing individual experiences, family interactions, community conditions, institutional practices, and broader policy interventions. Analysis across these multiple spheres highlight the intricate interplay of factors -from household routines to institutional support systems-in shaping asthma outcomes.
PMID:41259104 | DOI:10.1080/02770903.2025.2592241
