Question

Juanita is a 10-year-old Hispanic child with severe persistent asthma. She has had multiple Emergency Department admissions for asthma exacerbations. Juanita lives in low income housing in the inner city along with her mother, grandmother, and an older sibling.

Initial Discussion Post:

How will Juanita’s cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the development of an asthma education plan?

What interventions should the RN implement to empower Juanita to manage her asthma?

Answer 1

Most of the asthma patients are seen among the African American and Hispanic population because they are economically poor people. The cultural beliefs can affect the patient’s and family ability to manage asthma. Misconceptions regarding the cause and management of asthma can lead to poor adherence to the treatment plan. These people believe in folk medicine. It is important to speak to the patient regarding the benefits of the treatment in their own language. Use an interpreter to aid in asthma education rather than a family member to avoid miscommunication.