School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI.
Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2021 Aug;80(8):184-189.
Native Hawaiian health beliefs and cultural practices may influence how Native Hawaiian caregivers manage their children's asthma. Understanding the use of cultural practices as an asthma management strategy among Native Hawaiian caregivers who have a child with mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent asthma may inform the development of effective culturally-based asthma management interventions. A qualitative descriptive methodology with medical anthropology framework was used to describe pediatric asthma management strategies, define cultural asthma management practices, and identify cultural practices caregivers were aware of but did not use. Eighteen face-to-face interviews with self-identified Native Hawaiian caregivers of school-aged children between 5 and 12 years with asthma were interviewed. The study found that Native Hawaiian caregivers across all asthma severity types believed that the perceived cause of asthma was hereditary and environmental exposure. Also, standard asthma management strategies were used by caregivers with an emphasis on preventing exposure to known asthma triggers. If asthma symptoms presented themselves, Native Hawaiian caregivers often managed them with alternative practices before using the prescribed medication. Alternative practices included the use of massage and exposure to salt air. Native Hawaiian caregivers readily discussed awareness of cultural practices. However, cultural practices such as lā'au lapa'au (herbal medicine) and lomilomi (massage) were seldom, if ever, used. The study provides healthcare providers with knowledge regarding Native Hawaiian caregivers and their beliefs about the perceived cause of asthma and strategies for managing asthma, including use and awareness of cultural practices.
土生土长的夏威夷人的健康信仰和文化习俗可能会影响土生土长的夏威夷护理人员如何管理他们孩子的哮喘。了解在患有轻度持续性、中度持续性或重度持续性哮喘的土生土长的夏威夷护理人员中，将文化习俗用作哮喘管理策略的情况，可以为制定有效的基于文化的哮喘管理干预措施提供信息。采用医学人类学框架的定性描述方法，描述儿科哮喘管理策略，定义文化哮喘管理实践，并确定护理人员了解但未使用的文化实践。对 18 名自认为是 5 至 12 岁患有哮喘的学龄儿童的土生土长的夏威夷护理人员进行了面对面访谈。研究发现，所有哮喘严重程度类型的土生土长的夏威夷护理人员都认为哮喘的病因是遗传和环境暴露。此外，护理人员还采用了标准的哮喘管理策略，重点是预防接触已知的哮喘诱因。如果出现哮喘症状，土生土长的夏威夷护理人员通常会在使用处方药物之前先用替代疗法进行治疗。替代疗法包括按摩和暴露在盐空气中。土生土长的夏威夷护理人员很乐意讨论对文化实践的认识。然而，很少有护理人员使用草药疗法（lā'au lapa'au）和按摩疗法（lomilomi）等文化实践。该研究为医疗保健提供者提供了有关土生土长的夏威夷护理人员及其对哮喘病因和哮喘管理策略（包括文化实践的使用和认识）的看法的知识。
