Trends in Adolescent Asthma Responsibility Over a 12-Month Study Period

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess factors that influence adolescent asthma responsibility and how patient- and parent-reported asthma responsibility changes over a 12-month period.

Methods: One hundred sixty-four adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires at baseline and 12 months, including the asthma responsibility questionnaire, in which higher scores indicate greater adolescent responsibility. Multiple linear regression was used to assess how baseline asthma responsibility, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and demographic characteristics were associated with 12-month asthma responsibility.

Results: Asthma responsibility as reported by both adolescents and parents shifted significantly toward the adolescent over the study period (p < .001). Most individual scale items (e.g., noticing signs and symptoms of asthma, starting treatment when symptoms occur) also showed significant shifts toward greater adolescent responsibility. In the regression models, higher baseline asthma responsibility and older age were significant predictors of both higher adolescent- and parent-reported 12-month asthma responsibility, while female gender and mild asthma severity also predicted higher parent-reported asthma responsibility.

Conclusions: Asthma responsibility shifted toward adolescents over a 12-month period. Regardless of age and gender, all types of adolescents were able to improve their responsibility level based on adolescent-reported results. Older females, according to parent-reported results, were more likely to improve their responsibility. Providers need to make sure adolescents are learning all the necessary skills to manage asthma independently before they reach adulthood.