Chaney

Question 1

Key Terms

Operant Conditioning

Answer 1

Specific consequences are associated with a voluntary behaviour

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects about 1 in 4 people in Australia. Even though there are treatments for asthma, the problem is that some people (particularly younger children), do not use their inhalers correctly which can lead to risks to their health

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

To see if operant conditioning (i.e. rewards) could be used to encourage children to adhere to using their asthma medication

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

32 children (22 boys, 10 girls) from various socioeconomic areas across Western Australia aged between 1.5 and 6. On average they had had asthma for 2.2 years, and they all used either the Aerochamber inhaler or the Breath-a-Tech inhaler before the study

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

The Funhaler was created, which had a whistle that blew and a spinner that spun if the child used the proper breathing technique. Parents filled out a questionnaire about their child’s current inhaler spacer device. Then, the parents were given a Funhaler to use with their child for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, the parents filled out a questionnaire about using the Funhaler

Question 6

Findings

Answer 6

Behaviour
50% of children used proper breathing technique with their previous spacer device
80% did with the Funhaler
Attitude
10% of parents said they were completely happy with the old spacer device
61% said this about the Funhaler

Question 7

Conclusion

Answer 7

Operant conditioning is an effective way to encourage medical compliance in children