Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Volume 26, Issue 4 , Pages 295-303, August 2011

Children's Experiences of Living With Asthma: Fear of Exacerbations and Being Ostracized1

  • Anne Trollvik, RN, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Hedmark University College, Norway
    • Nordic school of Public Health, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Anne Trollvik, RN, MPH.
    • ,
  • Reidun Nordbach, RN

      Affiliations

    • Innlandet Hopital Trust, Norway
    • ,
  • Charlotte Silén, RN, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
    • ,
  • Karin C. Ringsberg, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Nordic school of Public Health, Sweden

published online 05 August 2010.

The aim of the study was to explore children's experiences of asthma to tailor a learning program based on their perspectives. Fifteen children (7–10 years) were interviewed, and they narrated the meaning behind their drawings; a phenomenological hermeneutical approach was used in the analysis. The findings are described in two themes with five subthemes: fear of exacerbation (bodily sensations, frightening experiences, and loss of control) and fear of being ostracized (experiences of being excluded and dilemma of keeping the asthma secret or being open about it). Drawings are a good tool for initiating a dialogue with children.

Key words: Child health, Asthma, Drawings, Qualitative research, Health promotion

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1 The study has been presented in two conferences: The 6th Nordic Health Promotion Conference, August 20–22, 2009, Gothenburg, Sweden, and The International Conference on Public Health Nursing, October 15–17, 2009, Diakonova University College, Oslo, Norway.

PII: S0882-5963(10)00156-9

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2010.05.003

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Volume 26, Issue 4 , Pages 295-303, August 2011

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