Souheil Hallit1, Chantal Raherison2, Mirna Waked3, Pascale Salameh4. 1. Lebanese University, School of Pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon; Universite Saint Joseph, School of Pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon; Universite Saint Esprit Kaslik, School of Medicine, Kaslik, Lebanon. Electronic address: souheilhallit@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Pneumology, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France; Occupational Health Environment Research Team, U1219 BPH Bordeaux Population Health Research Center Inserm - Université de Bordeaux, France. 3. Balamand University, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon. 4. Lebanese University, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To validate the Arabic version of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) in asthmatic children in Lebanon and identify risk factors that might affect asthma control in these children. METHODS: This study, conducted between December 2015 and April 2016, included 300 children. RESULTS: A high Cronbach's alpha was found for the full scale (0.959). The correlation factors between each item of the ACT scale and the whole scale ranged between 0.710 and 0.775(p < 0.001 for all items). Low mother's educational level as well as the history of asthma in the mother and the father would significantly increase the risk of uncontrolled asthma (p = 0.001; Beta = 1.862; p < 0.001; Beta = 3.534; p < 0.001; Beta = 1.885respectively). Cigarette smoking during breastfeeding and waterpipe smoking by the mother during pregnancy were both significantly associated with uncontrolled asthma (p = 0.005; Beta = 2.105 and p = 0.041; Beta = 2.325 respectively). The high mother's level of education was significantly associated with more asthma control (p = 0.008; Beta = -0.715). CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of the asthma control questionnaire is a valid tool to use in pediatric patients in the Lebanese population to assess asthma control. Waterpipe smoking during pregnancy and cigarette smoking during breastfeeding, as well as the lower education level are risk factors for uncontrolled asthma. Spreading awareness among health care professionals, as well as reinforcing health education seem to be an important step toward a better asthma control.
OBJECTIVES: To validate the Arabic version of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) in asthmatic children in Lebanon and identify risk factors that might affect asthma control in these children. METHODS: This study, conducted between December 2015 and April 2016, included 300 children. RESULTS: A high Cronbach's alpha was found for the full scale (0.959). The correlation factors between each item of the ACT scale and the whole scale ranged between 0.710 and 0.775(p < 0.001 for all items). Low mother's educational level as well as the history of asthma in the mother and the father would significantly increase the risk of uncontrolled asthma (p = 0.001; Beta = 1.862; p < 0.001; Beta = 3.534; p < 0.001; Beta = 1.885respectively). Cigarette smoking during breastfeeding and waterpipe smoking by the mother during pregnancy were both significantly associated with uncontrolled asthma (p = 0.005; Beta = 2.105 and p = 0.041; Beta = 2.325 respectively). The high mother's level of education was significantly associated with more asthma control (p = 0.008; Beta = -0.715). CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of the asthma control questionnaire is a valid tool to use in pediatric patients in the Lebanese population to assess asthma control. Waterpipe smoking during pregnancy and cigarette smoking during breastfeeding, as well as the lower education level are risk factors for uncontrolled asthma. Spreading awareness among health care professionals, as well as reinforcing health education seem to be an important step toward a better asthma control.