PURPOSE
Effects of information on management practices for children suffering from respiratory communicable diseases and their parents were investigated. METHODS: The experimental group consisted of 30 children who were in-patients suffering from a respiratory communicable disease and their parents. During their hospitalization, for 30 min each day, the children and their parents received education that included information about disease management including symptoms, prevention and environmental hygiene.
The information was developed using illustrations and photoshop. The control group consisted of 30 children who were in-patients and their parents. They received the usual nursing care without any of the above education. The instruments used in this study were the bibliographies of respiratory disease management. chi2 test, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test with SPSS 11.5 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Significant differences between the experimental and control groups were found for management of symptoms (Z=4.350, p<.001) and environmental hygiene (Z=4.033, p=.000), but not for prevention (Z=4.033, p=.149). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that providing information was effective for management practice of symptoms and environmental hygiene, but not for prevention management for the children and their parents. Therefore programs should be developed to promote prevention management.
