Assessing Racial and Gender Disparities in Asthma Education, Knowledge, and Healthcare Access Among Adolescents.

Abstract

Purpose: Asthma is the most common chronic disease among adolescents, yet disparities exist in its diagnosis and management across racial and gender groups. This study aims to assess asthma knowledge, awareness, and healthcare access among adolescents, with a focus on racial and gender disparities. The goal is to identify gaps in asthma education and knowledge, as well as other barriers that may contribute to the underdiagnosis of asthma within these groups.

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional survey included adolescents aged 10-18 years, with responses collected through Qualtrics. A total of 90 participants were selected, with no restrictions based on asthma status. Written informed consent was obtained from parents of participants under 18, while participants who were 18 years old provided their own written consent in accordance with IRB guidelines. Participants' knowledge of asthma symptoms, triggers, and healthcare access was assessed using multiple-choice and Likert scale questions. Data were analyzed for demographic differences in asthma knowledge and healthcare access across racial and gender groups.

Results: The study found that asthma education was minimal, with only 8% of participants reporting prior formal asthma education. Despite this, 53.4% of participants considered themselves knowledgeable about asthma, 59.5% could identify three or more asthma symptoms, and 50.6% identified more than three triggers. Racial disparities were evident, with Asian adolescents having a significantly lower asthma diagnosis rate compared to other racial groups (6.5% vs 47.4%, P<0.01), a lower rate of self-reported asthma knowledge (45.1% vs 64.9%, P=0.08), and lower odds of finding healthcare access "extremely easy" (OR=0.179, 95% CI: 0.076-0.455, P=0.00018). Although there was no difference in the rate of previous asthma diagnoses, males were more likely to seek medical help compared to females (OR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.037-6.268, P=0.032).

Conclusion: This study highlights significant gaps in asthma education, perception of healthcare access, and healthcare seeking behaviour particularly among Asian adolescents and females, and underscores the need for targeted interventions to address racial and gender disparities in asthma diagnosis and care.