Sometimes the barriers to self-management may inadvertently come from those we know and love and who live around us. While we want the best for our children, we still may listen to parents, other relatives, friends, or others in our communities who provide us with well-intentioned advice on treating and managing asthma that may conflict with what your medical professionals may be saying to you.

Asthma-Related Beliefs

The identification of asthma as a disease goes back centuries. This means that attitudes and perceptions about asthma go back centuries as well.

In some minority communities, for instance, asthma has been viewed as a condition in which you treat the symptoms when they arise — rather than manage the condition itself. This means that at times a lower level of asthma control may be accepted because these communities may not be aware of the impact that appropriate (and newer) asthma management may have on their lives.

This could make compliance with a daily long-term controller medication to prevent airway inflammation more difficult and may lead to poorer asthma outcomes. In addition, lack of symptoms on certain days in some communities may mean that someone's asthma is actually okay when it's not. The idea that long-term medications need to be taken every single day — even when symptoms are absent — may have a hard time gaining acceptance.

But each community can be different. One study noted that living in an “ethnic enclave” — which had a high percentage of foreign-born residents — appeared to be good for children's health, with far fewer children having asthma and respiratory symptoms compared to the national rate.

Cultural and Ethnic Perspectives

Sometimes it may seem that health care providers come from one world and patients from another in terms of cultural beliefs. While a provider may see asthma as something to treat with medication and avoidance of triggers, other cultures and ethnic groups may have a different set of parameters.

This doesn't mean one group is right or wrong. In fact, you may be familiar with some of these ideas. But, it does mean that health care providers should make attempts to understand an individual's cultural viewpoint and values to ensure better ongoing management of asthma.

For instance, many Latinos may make distinctions among illnesses as being “hot” or “cold.” Rather than dismissing this belief, your provider — as a part of the therapeutic relationship — can consider maybe incorporating a hot drink such as tea when taking a medication.

Similarly, if a preparation or home remedy is being taken by a child with asthma that could be harmful, the provider should step in to provide advice and suggest an alternative. Some of these home remedies, such as herbs, for instance, might contain ingredients that could replicate properties in a medication, which could cause serious complications.

Language Barriers

Any communication with a health care provider should be done in a language you understand well. Some providers in the past have relied on children to interpret for their parents when an interpreter is not available. However, this is risky when medical terminology and medication usage is discussed.

Good communication has been found to correspond to better compliance. For instance, several studies among Hispanic parents and children found that the language barrier was a leading risk factor for having inadequate asthma therapy for their children.