A family intervention for symptom management in children with asthma: development and feasibility of a complex intervention

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood, manifesting through persistent symptoms such as shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing, unpredictable and irregular symptomatic episodes (Global Initiative for Asthma, 20151), being one of the main causes of school absenteeism and hospitalization (Observatório Nacional das Doenças Respiratórias, 20152; Direção-Geral da Saúde, 20143). It is considered as a complex disease, because it can depend of several factors and has impact on several functional domains, including physical, psychological, social and family (Iley, 20074). The impact of asthma has repercussions not only on children and parents, but also on families, due to it being an episodic disease requiring that the family consistently adjust to the requirements and consequences of this condition (Santer, Ring, Yardley, Geraghty & Wyke, 20145), making it relevant to know the profile of symptom management, comprehending the needs and possibilities of intervention. This article focuses on the design of a complex intervention aimed at children with asthma and parents, methodologically orientated in Complex Interventions in Health, multi-study and multi-method planning based on the guidelines of the Medical Research Council (Craig et al., 20086) and the Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in health care (CReDECI 2) (Möhler, Köpke & Meyer, 20157).