Clinical indicators of ineffective breathing pattern in children with asthma

Abstract

A cross-sectional study, performed with 147 asthmatic children put into a public infant hospital of Fortaleza – CE, was developed with the aim to analyze the accuracy of the defi ned characteristics of the nursing diagnosis “Ineffective breathing pattern - IBP” in asthmatic children. The defi ned characteristics with more prevalence were dyspnea (56,4%) and altered respiratory frequency (50,3%). The nursing diagnosis IBP was present in 36,1% of the searched population. The sensitive defi ned characteristic for the diagnosis IBP was the dyspnea. However, the characteristics that were considered specifi c were beating of the nose wing, to assume a position of 3 points and increased antero-posterior diameter. The conclusion was that studies that collaborate to outline the profi le of the most frequently defi ned characteristics for a specifi c population should be stimulated because they can serve as a guide in nursing practice.