The Effect of Self-Efficacy of Children and Adolescents with Asthma on Their Quality of Life

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of self-efficacy of children and adolescents with asthma on their quality of life. Material and

Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 137 children and adolescents between the ages of 10-18 who were followed up by the respiratory allergies clinic of a university hospital by using the Asthmatic Child and Adolescent Information Form, Asthmatic Child and Adolescent Self-Efficacy Scale and Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results: The study showed that 34.3% of the factors triggering asthma attacks in children and adolescents with asthma included in the study were pollen, 27.7% were house dust mites, 16.8% were animals and 46.0% of children and adolescents had an asthma attack after physical activities. Considering the sub-dimensions according to the children's quality of life score averages, the highest mean score was in the "symptom" group. While the total quality of life and its sub-dimension scores of children and adolescents with asthma were moderate and high, self-efficacy and its sub-dimensions scores were found to be moderate.

Conclusion: Pediatric nurses should support children and adolescents from the beginning of diagnosis in order to teach coping approaches, and increase their quality of life and self-efficacy levels during asthma attacks.