The role of behavioural theories in educational interventions for paediatric asthma.

Controlling paediatric respiratory disease requires a significant change in the behaviour of all stakeholders: patient, family, clinician, community and health system. The good management of asthma by patients requires that they learn what works and does not work for them given their particular circumstances. Asthma interventions can help patients to improve their self-regulation and achieve better health status, quality of life and personal goals. Many asthma interventions do not, however, achieve change because they are not based on sound theories of behaviour. They fail to teach patients how to observe, judge and react appropriately to their change efforts. Successful interventions have been based on theoretical principles and have generally combined strategies for preventing and managing an asthma episode and managing the social and behavioural factors associated with the disease.