The Relationship of Household Routines to Morbidity Outcomes in Childhood Asthma

Abstract

PURPOSE: The major purpose of this study was to explore the effect of routines on asthma management and morbidity outcomes for children with asthma and their parents. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is a secondary data analysis in a sample of 150 children, which was originally used for an intervention study. RESULTS: Parents who had fewer routines in their homes had lower quality-of-life scores and higher burden of asthma scores when compared to parents in households with more routines. More routines were associated with improved asthma morbidity outcomes as measured by nurse rankings of routines. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Assisting families to establish routines may result in improved asthma morbidity outcomes.