A Study on the Stressors of Primary Caregivers of Children with Asthma

Asthma is a common chronic disease in children. Its prevalence in Taiwan has been increasing every year. Because repeated asthma attacks are life threatening, primary caregivers who take care of children with asthma may experience extremely high levels of stress. This study used qualitative research methods to identify the sources of caregiver stress. Eighteen primary caregivers were interviewed individually, and 12 were interviewed through focus-group discussions. Using data obtained from a literature review and the respondents' caregiver experiences, authors summarized and categorized stressors as physiologic, psychological, intellectual, and social. Primary caregivers taking care of children with asthma paid more attention to household cleaning; this was the biggest physiologic stressor. The biggest psychological stressor was coping with the life-threatening nature of asthma attacks, and the biggest intellectual stressor was drug safety. The close family ties of Chinese culture impose heavy social stress on primary caregivers, as does the schools' refusal to provide adequate asthma care. Further studies are warranted to investigate coping strategies for caregiver stress and to provide useful and relevant recommendations.