Asthma is a disease that is often encountered in children. The highest prevalence of asthma in the world reaches 15-17%. While in Indonesia, the lowest prevalence found in the city of Bandung at 2.6%, the highest is in the city of Jakarta at 16.4% and Yogyakarta 10.55%. The cause of the high prevalence of asthma is suspected due to lack of parental knowledge about asthma. Its management is closely related to increased morbidity and mortality.
That was raised in the doctoral exam of FX Wikan Indrarto at the UGM Faculty of Medicine on Friday (23/9). His promoter is Prof. Dr. dr. Sutaryo, SpA (K) and co-promoter Prof. Dr. Djauhar Ismail, MPH., Ph.D., Sp.A (K).
Indrarto said the role of parents and doctors is known to be extremely important in the management and control of asthma’s clinical symptoms in children. However, parental acceptance of the children’s asthma still depends on the influence and psychosocial characteristics of parents, compared to their knowledge about asthma. "Psychosocial interventions in doctor’s social support are more needed to generate acceptance and satisfaction of the patient," said the doctor practising at Bethesda Hospital in Yogyakarta.
He added that the implemented social support on various levels of health services can affect one’s health and welfare, including parents of children with asthma. Therefore, physicians, nurses, health cadres, teachers and classmates can provide assistance for children with asthma, both directly and indirectly.
Social support is very important because from the results of the study, mothers of children with asthma show to have more depressive symptoms than mothers of children without asthma. Even they are often stressed longer throughout their life, so this takes a more comprehensive social support.
The management of asthma in children includes: first, prevent the emergence of chronic symptoms (defects), maintain lung function to remain normal or near normal, prevent recurring relapse, reduce emergency room visits or hospitalization, use of drugs with minimal side effects and the fulfillment of patients’ expectations and satisfaction, as well as their families, in controlling the clinical symptoms of asthma.
Second, empathic social support in form of the provision of information by explaining the situation and everything that relates to the problems. Third, emotional support in the form of emphatic expressions, for example, willing to listen, be open, believing the complaint of the children is genuine, be willing to understand, affection and attention. Fourth, support in the form of direct assistance such as facilities or materials.