STRIVING TO CONTROL ASTHMA SYMPTOMS: A CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF BEING A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH ASTHMA IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is a common chronic lung disease among children in Saudi Arabia. Parents play an important role in recognising, monitoring, and managing their children’s symptoms, which depends on their knowledge and skill, especially for young children. Yet, no study has been identified that explores mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with asthma in Saudi Arabia. Aim: To generate a Grounded Theory to explain the experiences and perceptions of being a mother of a child with asthma in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A Constructivist Grounded Theory approach was adopted, and 24 in-depth semi- structured interviews (n=22 mothers) were used to collect data from May 2022 to September 2023. Mothers in Saudi Arabia whose children were attending one of three hospitals in Qassim were initially convenience sampled, progressing to theoretical sampling until theoretical saturation was reached. Interviews were transcribed and translated into English and analysed using Charmaz’s principles: initial, focused, and theoretical coding, constant comparison, theoretical sampling and sensitivity, and memo-writing and diagramming. Results: The Grounded Theory, ‘Striving to Control Asthma Symptoms,’ was constructed from the data, which consists of a core category, ‘striving to control asthma symptoms,’ and two sub-categories: ‘managing the triggers of asthma symptoms’ and ‘using treatments to manage and prevent asthma symptoms.’ The theory explains mothers' experiences and the cultural beliefs and social influences that underpin their experiences. Mothers control asthma symptoms by preventing triggers and using preventive treatments, such as inhalers or traditional and religious methods. When symptoms appear, they manage them with either traditional or modern treatments. Conclusion: The emergent theory suggests that striving to control asthma symptoms is central to the mother’s experience in the Saudi context. It highlighted how cultural beliefs and social influences impact the management of asthma symptoms in Saudi Arabia. This study provides an in-depth understanding of Saudi mothers' experience of being a mother of a child with asthma. This understanding could assist healthcare professionals and policymakers in supporting mothers and providing better culturally tailored care.