The pediatric self-management model in asthma: A theory analysis and evaluation.

Theoretical principles: The Pediatric Self-management Model (PSMM) is a middle-range theory geared at understanding the relationship between factors influencing chronic illness management in children. PSMM is a family-centered model that focuses on the unique factors present in the pediatric population.

Phenomena addressed: Pediatric asthma is a leading chronic respiratory illness in the United States, affecting over 4.6 million children in 2020. Over 40% of children with asthma will have at least one exacerbation per year. On average, a child with asthma will miss nine additional school days annually. Using the Walker and Avant framework for theory analysis, the PSMM is examined through the lens of pediatric asthma to evaluate its applicability to pediatric asthma shared management and adherence.

Research linkages: The PSMM has been used as a framework for understanding the roles of managing chronic illness in children, but it has yet to be applied to pediatric asthma. Asthma outcomes inherently depend on preventative medicine and home care strategies for symptom management and response outside the healthcare facility. The PSMM is a new framework for understanding barriers and facilitators within pediatric asthma management and highlights the importance of the dyadic relationship between child and parent to successfully share healthcare responsibility.