Asthma and nutrition: What nutrition information do parents/carers of primary school age children with asthma have and does this information impact on the children’s asthma symptoms? A cross-sectional study
By Lin Petry - Nutrition Science and Practice
Abstract
Introduction
Asthma is a prevalent chronic condition, affecting 1.1 million children in the UK. This research describes the roles for nutrition in asthma management both as a risk factor, where dietary allergens may develop and exacerbate asthma, as well as a source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and fibre, with anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties, that can reduce asthma symptoms.
Aims
The main aim of this study was to explore what information parents have on nutrition and asthma, and to create an overview of source and topic of this information. The usefulness of this information is assessed by measuring its effect on asthma symptoms experienced by the participants’ children.
Methodology
The study design was a single cross-sectional survey to collect data through an anonymous self-directed drop-off questionnaire for parents with primary school age children with asthma in a Cumbrian town. The survey was carried out in three schools in January-February 2020. The quantitative data was analysed, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), to determine prevalence percentages of asthma and nutrition information parents have. The chi-square test was intended to demonstrate associations between available information and its impact on asthma symptoms.
Findings
The 29 participants’ children consisted of 18 boys and 11 girls and asthma severity was mainly noted as intermittent, which suggests that asthma may be experienced as ‘manageable’ in the researched community. The survey response rate provided insufficient data in the specific variable subsets for a chi-square test.
Conclusion
The literature review confirms the scientific validity of the existing research, which especially supports the role of fruit and vegetable intake, and to a lesser extent the Mediterranean diet, to decrease asthma symptoms. The survey confirms that parents generally receive no nutrition information from public asthma platforms or from GPs, asthma clinics or hospitals. The gap between these information sources could be filled by more available nutrition information on asthma platforms from the main healthcare providers and by nutritional therapists.
