氣喘是兒童及青少年時期常見的慢性疾病,其早期、反覆、不可預期性的發作可能影響其身心社會發展。本研究目的主要在比較氣喘學生與健康對照學生之生活適應狀況,並探討疾病與適應問題間的關係。 研究立意選取宜蘭縣礁溪鄉三所國小四至六年級和二所國中全體學生為對象,採用ISAAC錄影帶及書面問卷篩檢疑似氣喘者,經護理人員確診訪談找出89位氣喘學生,接著在每位氣喘學生班上選出兩位同性別且無任何慢性疾病之健康學生為對照組。最後以結構式問卷評估兩組學生的生活適情形,實際有效樣本數為255人。 主要發現如下:健康對照學生之生理適應、自覺身體症狀、一般活動限制、氣喘相關活動限制、心理適應、自尊、情緒狀態、人際適應、師長互動及手足互動等適應情形顯著優於氣喘學生;氣喘學生的發病年齡、過去就醫經驗以及半年來的緊送醫情況與其身心社會適應有關。 本研究結論氣喘會影響學生的生活適應,建議在規劃氣喘學生照護計畫時考慮其身心及社會各層面的需求。
Asthma is the most common chronic disease during childhood and adolescence. A condition such as asthma, with an early onset, has the potential to complicate the physical and emotional development and psychological adjustment of children. This study attempted to understand the psychosomatic symptoms and social adjustment of students with asthma and also tried to compare asthmatic students with their healthy peers. Three primary schools and two junior high schools in Ilan County were selected. Grade 4-9 students with asthma and two healthy classmates from each asthmatic in these schools were included as subjects for a comparison. Two-hundred and fifty-five subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire relating to life adjustment. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1. Asthmatic students reported more psychosomatic symptoms and social adjustment problems than their healthy peers. 2. Asthmatic students showed worse adaptation in psychosomatic symptoms and social adjustment than healthy peers even though the demographic variables were controlled statistically. 3. Age of onset, previous seeking of medical attention, and use of emergency services for asthma were correlated with psychosomatic symptoms and social adjustment in asthmatic students. The findings of this study suggest that adolescents with asthma represent an important vulnerable group of school children. The whole demand of asthmatic students for asthma education must be considered.