Barriers and Facilitators of Asthma Management as Experienced by African American Caregivers of Children with Asthma: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: African American children with asthma demonstrate significant health disparities and poor health outcomes. Understanding the burdens faced by parents and caregivers of children with asthma may be helpful to develop future interventions to address this disparity.

Purpose: The purpose of this integrative review was to reveal the barriers and facilitators of child asthma management experienced by African American caregivers.

Method: Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) method of integrative review was used to review 40 articles. The integrative review involved appraising the quality of the literature, conducting a thematic analysis, and evaluating the barriers and facilitators of pediatric asthma management experienced by African American caregivers.

Results: Barriers and facilitators were identified as themes. Barriers included caregiver burdens, and lack of home and neighborhood safety. Facilitators were family and community support, education and empowerment, and culturally competent healthcare providers.

Discussion: To improve the care of African American children with asthma, nurses should work to engage, communicate, and foster trust with families. Nurses should assess and address the family caregivers' burdens while emphasizing support systems.

Keywords: African American; Asthma; Caregiver burden; Child; Family caregiver; Health disparities.