Abstract

CUNHA, Margarida; CONSTANT, Carolina; MOTA, Ana Sofia  and  BANDEIRA, Teresa. Acute Bronchiolitis: inform to prevent. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2020, vol.36, n.2, pp.208-214. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v36i2.12436.

Introduction: Acute bronchiolitis (AB) is the most common respiratory infection in the first two years of life. There is effective anticipatory care for prevention and severity identification. Aims of the study: To evaluate the knowledge of parents/caregivers about AB and explore determinants of this knowledge, including sources of information and association with preventive measures. Methods: Questionnaire to parents/caregivers of children aged less than or equal to 24 months between April 1-15, 2016. We characterized the responders and the children and the self-perceived and actual knowledge about AB, previous experience, risk factors, sources of information and knowledge about preventive measures. The questionnaire was applied by medical students, during the programmed or emergency appointment, and in public places. Descriptive and association analysis (SPSS 21^®) was applied. Results: A total of 123 questionnaires were obtained. The respondents were the mother 92 (74.8%), father 23 (18.7%), other 8 (6.5%), mean age 33.1 ± 7.9 years, secondary education 100 (81.4%). Of the participants, 24 (19.5%) were smokers and 56 (46%) of the children had at least one sibling. The actual knowledge about AB [52 (42%)] was lower than that self-perceived [89 (72.4%)], with a relationship between both (p=0.03). Real knowledge is not influenced by the number of siblings (p=0.539), literacy (p=0.520), previous experience with BA (p=0.059) or sources of information [physician (50,5%), leaflet (5,6%)] (p=0.916) but it influences knowledge about preventive measures [importance of hand washing (p=0.001), risk of smoking exposure during pregnancy (p=0.047) and after birth (p=0.416), protective effect of breastfeeding (p=0.047), and increased risk of contagion in enclosed spaces (p=0.029)]. Of the 34 parents/caregivers with prior AB experience, 13 (40.6%) had received information before diagnosis. Conclusion: We found that knowledge about AB influences preventive attitudes. The information was transmitted by doctors in about ½ of the cases. These results can guide the development of more effective campaigns.

Keywords : Acute bronchiolitis; Prevention; Information; Perceptional knowledge; Actual knowledge.

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