Opinions of patients with persistent asthma regarding the use of mobile applications for disease monitoring

• Autor(a) principal: Carvalhal, Célia Alexandra Soares
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/8774
• topic: Adesão à Terapêutica; Aplicações Móveis; Asma; Uso de Telemóveis; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Médicas::Ciências da Saúde::Medicina

The aims of this study were to evaluate adherence to treatment and needs of adults with persistent asthma; to assess their interest in using mobile applications (apps) for management and adherence to treatment, and to describe the use of mobile devices, social networks and apps. The secondary aim was to investigate users’ opinions about an app (Inspirermundi) to assess and improve adherence to treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted with adult patients with persistent asthma, active prescription of inhaled therapy, and access to a mobile device (smartphone/tablet). Patients were recruited at 120 immunoallergology and pulmonology outpatient clinic appointments, between September 2017 and June 2018, at Hospital Pêro da Covilhã. Four of the recruited patients participated in a prospective extension of the study, in which they were invited to use the Inspirer Mundi app. Participants answered a survey on sociodemographic data, smoking habits, disease control (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test), adherence to treatment (e.g. 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and use of mobile devices, social networks and mobile applications (e.g. smartphone usage of the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale). In the prospective extension of the study, patients answered a telephone interview at 6 months to assess their opinion regarding the app. The 40 participants (78% women) included had a mean age of 49.9±15.8 years. Almost half (48%) had at least one exacerbation in the previous 12 months and 85% had uncontrolled disease. Most (85%) did not use any asthma monitoring method between medical appointments (e.g. symptoms diary, peak flow meter). Self-reported adherence to treatment showed that one in four participants had low adherence. At least once a day, 55% of participants navigate on the internet with their smartphone/tablet and 35% use apps. As for social networks, 93% of participants used them and 68% accessed it at least once a day. Nine (22%) participants had previously downloaded and used mobile health/fitness apps (only one for asthma); 65% stated that would like to use apps to improve adherence to inhaled asthma medication. Most participants had uncontrolled asthma and rhinitis, reported high adherence to treatment and the majority of those with mobile devices were daily users of social networks and the internet. Currently only 1/4 use mobile applications but 2/3 would like to use apps for supporting their asthma management.