The role of asthma management beliefs and behaviors in childhood asthma immune and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE This study examined associations of asthma management-related beliefs and behaviors with immune markers and clinical outcomes in a sample of 66 children with asthma (ages 9-18 years). METHODS Children and parents were interviewed about asthma management beliefs and behaviors. Immune measures included stimulated production of cytokines implicated in asthmatic airway inflammation, eosinophil counts, and IgE levels. Clinical outcomes included pulmonary function, symptoms, beta-agonist use, and physician contacts. RESULTS Children's reports of greater conceptual understanding of asthma, parents' reports of quicker responses to asthma symptoms, and children's and parents' reports of more balanced integration of asthma into daily life were all associated with reduced inflammatory profiles. Inflammatory profiles were found to be a statistically significant pathway linking asthma beliefs and behaviors to clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that interventions aimed at teaching families better asthma management approaches may have the potential to alter biological profiles in children with asthma.