Attitudes of children with cystic fibrosis or asthma to own illness

Abstract

 Introduction. Chronic respiratory disease exposes the child to many difficult and new situations,  impairs the development of a child, making difficult to achieve  new goals. That is a severe emotional experience for ill children and their families. Chronic respiratory disease will accompany their entire life. Their approach to illness at childhood will translate into their attitude when they become  adults. Children with a positive attitude will get better results at school afterwards in adult life than children with a negative mindset.

Aim. The purpose of the study was to analyze the attitudes of children towards their own illness based on an evaluation of the attitudes of children with cystic fibrosis and bronchial asthma.

Materials and methods. The research was conducted in a group of 48 children with cystic fibrosis (22) and bronchial asthma (26) treated at the Regional Children's Hospital after J. Brudziński in Bydgoszcz. The study made use of a survey questionnaire: Children's Attitudes Toward Illness Scale - CATIS and own survey containing socio-demographic data.

Results. The study showed that children with cystic fibrosis exhibit a more negative attitude towards their own illness than children with bronchial asthma. It was proved that gender and hospitalization due to the illness do have effect on the attitude toward their illness, in contrast to age, place of residence.