Analysis of knowledge evaluation tools for pediatric patients participating in an asthma education program

Ensuring patients are informed and knowledgeable about their health and disease management has been identified as a key aspect of effective health care. Patient education has been incorporated in treatment guidelines for childhood asthma. The effectiveness of patient education should be evaluated. However, the best tool to evaluate educational interventions on children's knowledge and management of their asthma is unknown and guidelines do not recommend any standard knowledge evaluation tool. The objective was to identify and analyze the asthma knowledge evaluation tools available for children and their caregivers participating in asthma education programs. Methods: The study consisted of two parts: (i) observation of patient education sessions and review of international asthma guidelines to identify essential topics for education and (ii) a literature review to identify existing knowledge evaluation tools and assess how they addressed the essential topics. Results: Six essential topics (physiology of the respiratory system, physiopathology of asthma, trigger factors, asthma treatments, asthma exacerbation management and self-management education) and sixteen knowledge evaluation tools were identified. None of the tools evaluated all the essential topics. Understanding of the respiratory system was the topic most frequently lacking. Eight validated questionnaires were found. However, they did not address all the essential topics nor were designed for children under 9 years old. Conclusions: This study highlighted some gaps in the evaluation methods for asthma education and identified the essential elements of a pediatric asthma knowledge evaluation tool. New knowledge evaluation tools assessing the six essential topics identified and appropriate for children of various ages are needed.