Table 2 List of items mentioned by children by focus group

Limitations due to environmental triggers

No pets ¹

1,2,3,4,5

Cigarette smoke

1,2,3,4,5

Dust (house dust mite)

1,2,3,4,5

Seasonal changes

1,3,4,5

Strong smelling substances like perfume

1,2,3

Changes in the weather

1,2,4

No stuffed animals allowed

4

Always keeping your room clean

4

Food allergy

3

Can't go to the zoo

2

Allergy in general

1,2,3,4,5

Triggers in general

1,2,3,4,5

Physical complaints including asthma symptoms

Cough

1,2,3,4,5

Shortness of breath

1,2,3,4,5

Wheezing

1,2,3,4,5

Other physical complaints:

   *Being tired

4,5

   *Having a red head

1

   *Headache

2,3

   *Stomach-ache

2

   *Pain

3

   *Being sick

2,3

   *dizziness

2

Sore throat

1,2,3,5

Night time complaints

1,2,3,4

Asthma attack

1,2,5

How bad is asthma

3,4,5

Sputum production

2,4

Out of breath/deep breath

3

Difficult to laugh

1

Limitations in activities

Running

1,2,3,4,5

Sport-activities, like cycling

1,2,3,4,5

Can not keep up with others/feeling less capable

1,2,3,5

Swimming

1,2,3,4,5

Physical education

1,2,3,5

Playing outside

2,3,5

Carrying heavy stuff

2

Being busy

2,4

Impact on social life

Being bullied, left out and not believed

1,2,3,4,5

Visits to doctors, hospitals, tests

1,3,5

Missing days at school

1,3,5

Having to explain about asthma

1,3,4,5

Guilty feeling (asthma is annoying for others)

1,5

Self management aspects

1,2,3,4

Going to parties

2,4

Playing

1,2,4,5

Lack of consideration by others

1,2

Limitations in family activities

1,3

Having a friend with asthma (positive)

3,5

Asthma camp (positive)

3

Fail to meet the expectations of a parent

1

Emotional and mental impact (including self management components)

Daily medication use

1,2,3,4,5

Dependency on medication

1,2,3,4,5

Difficult to concentrate/paying attention

1,2,3,4,5

Feeling different (less popular) and lonely

1,4,5

Take medication with you

2,4,5

Always have to take asthma into account

1,2,4

Angry, hate, to be fed up

1,4,5

Feeling sad

1,5

Fear for asthma attacks and dyspnoea

1,5

Take medication in front of others

2,4,5

Frustrated

4

Worried/concerned or troubled

4

Peak flow measures

1,4

Fear about the future

4