A Study on the Effectiveness of an Educational Package on the Knowledge of Mothers of Asthmatic Children on Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

An evaluative study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge of mothers of asthmatic children on asthma and to determine the effectiveness of an educational package in terms of improvement in knowledge of mothers. A quasi experimental pretest posttest control group design was used. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select the subjects and they were randomized into either the experimental or control group using block randomization. Each group consisted of 40 mothers who fulfilled the sampling criteria. Baseline characteristics and a structured knowledge questionnaire on asthma were used to collect data. The findings of the study revealed that the difference from pretest to posttest knowledge scores in the experimental and control group was statistically significant (F = 444.35, p<0.01) and the difference between the experimental and control group was statistically significant (F= 223.663, p< 0.01). The Post Hoc Bonferroni test showed significant difference within the groups and also between the experimental and control groups (p< 0.01). There was significant improvement in knowledge among mothers in the experimental group than in the control group. Hence empowering mothers about asthma will help in adopting appropriate preventive measures and reduce asthma exacerbations in children.

Keywords: Knowledge, Mothers of asthmatic children, Educational package