Massage Therapy Program and Telephone Follow-UpEffects on Anxiety and Satisfaction among Bronchial Asthma Children

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness. It is a serious public health problem all over the worldespecially among children, even with the current significant progress in the diagnosis, treatment and control of asthma in developed countries. Massage therapy is one of the most common complementary and alternative medicines used for the maintenance of safety and endurance in children and their families with asthma. Telephone follow-up is using for counseling, training, answering possible questions and follow-up children with asthma. This study aimed to evaluate massage therapy program and telephone follow-up effects on anxiety and satisfaction among bronchial asthma children.Setting: This study was done at pediatricoutpatient clinic in Aga Central Hospital at Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A convenience sample of 60 children who recruited in the previously mentioned settings. Tools: four toolswas used to collect the study,toolI: a semi-structured interviewing questionnaire sheet to assess children’s knowledge regarding asthma, tool II:Spence children’s anxiety scale is a clinically valuable tool in assessment of childhood anxiety, tool III:Asthma Control Test toidentify those with poorly controlled asthma and tool IV: Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction Scalethat is used to assess patient satisfaction with their treatment. Results: the mean score for generalized anxiety was 7.95+ 2.00 compared to 3.23+1.91 and 3.38+1.92 with highly statistically significant difference andmore than half of them were very satisfied at post-massage therapy application compared to more than three-quarters of them at follow-up three months. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between satisfaction level and asthma control with highly statistically significant difference.Conclusion:The study wasconcluded that reducing in anxiety and improving in the satisfaction level of children with bronchial asthma after massage therapyapplication combined with telephone follow up calls. Recommendations: Public health strategies should increase children and parents' awareness of the importance of using asthma control toolsand massage therapy as one of complementary therapies.