Evaluation of a choir as a non-medical intervention for children with asthma : BreathStars

Bowden, LE; Long, T; Henry, H

Abstract

A shift in current health policy has seen heightened focus on non-medical interventions which can be delivered out with formal healthcare settings, to complement and enhance the clinical care of people with long-term conditions. Asthma is a common long-term condition managed by pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Recent research activity has focused on the use of singing for respiratory health due to its similarity with the more well-known intervention of breathing exercises. The aim of this study was to determine if singing improved breathing in children with asthma. A realist evaluation study design with a mixed methods approach was adopted to evaluate a singing group for children aged 7-12. Results obtained through framework analysis of the data indicated notable improvement in asthma control with the added impact on self-esteem. Enjoyment of the singing group within a family centred approach was seen as a positive alongside the community benefit of wider asthma education. Lessons can be learnt from this evaluation which could inform future initiatives relevant to the current agenda of asset based approaches such as social prescribing within the context of the current devolution of the health and social care budget in the North West of England.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 9, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 13, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 2, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 12, 2019
• Journal: Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing
• Print ISSN: 2469-4193
• Electronic ISSN: 2469-4207
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 128-141
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24694193.2019.1607629
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/24694193.2019.1607629
• Related Public URLs: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/icpn21/current
• Additional Information: Projects : Evaluation of Breathstars; Grant Number: 0010310964