Funder: Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders Belgium

Researchers: Maes, L and Hublet, A. (Belgium); Boyce, W. (Canada); Tynjälä, J. (Finland); Vollebergh, W. (the Netherlands); Holstein, B; and Due, P. (Denmark); Godeau, E. (France).

Description:

Asthma is a common and severe chronic disease in children and adolescents influencing their quality of life and interfering with normal school activities. For introduction in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey, a short questionnaire is developed to assess asthma and symptoms of asthma in children. Factors related to asthma and asthma symptoms in children (school-experiences, relations with friends, self-image and other psychosocial variables) will be studied based on the 2001-2002 survey.

In the first phase, the pre-testing of the asthma questionnaire, the questionnaire was completed by 10-12 year old children in the class-room without supervision, and by their parents at home without help from the child. In the second phase, the asthma questionnaire is included in the HBSC-study in 6 countries: Finland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Belgium-Flanders. National and international analyses will be conducted.