The Effect of Violence on Asthma, Article Review Example

The article entitled “The Effect of Violence on Asthma: Are Our Children Facing a Double-edged Sword” addresses the importance of violence in lower income households in urban communities where children with Asthma reside (Walker et.al, 2008). Under these conditions, it is likely that there are significant factors that are associated with the ability of these children to obtain necessary treatment in a timely manner, and that their ongoing exposure to violence may also exacerbate symptoms in different ways (Walker et.al, 2008). Therefore, many children in inner city settings may die prematurely from asthma-related symptoms due to violent circumstances that cause increased stress and other related problems (Walker et.al, 2008). The article considers a study that was conducted to determine if educational opportunities were effective in limiting the necessity for children to visit the emergency room with asthma symptoms (Walker et.al, 2008). It was determined that providing children and their caregivers with knowledge regarding the importance of primary care visits is essential in reducing the number of emergency room  visits (Walker et.al, 2008). This article and its survey provides an effective discussion regarding the importance of asthma education, particularly for urban youth, and in supporting the needs of these children who face an increased risk of violence in the home environment, which could also increase stress, fear and subsequent asthma symptoms (Walker et.al, 2008). The article is important in determining how to effectively approach children with asthma to provide them with a safe and protective environment in which to live, and in which to also treat their symptoms as they arise, which includes an essential educational component to support positive outcomes for all younger patients in this category.

References

Walker, J., Lewis-Land, C., Kub, J., Tsoukleris, M., and Butz, A. (2008). The effect of violence on asthma: are our children facing a double-edged sword? Journal of Community Health, 33: 384-388.