A Randomized Trial Examining the Effectiveness of Mobile-Based Asthma Action Plans vs. Paper Asthma Action Plans

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Asthma

Interventions: Other: Paper Asthma Action Plan
Device: Mobile Phone

Registration Number: NCT02091869

Lead Sponsor: Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to see if using a mobile phone application asthma action plan will help improve asthma management.

Detailed Description: The investigators propose to conduct a randomized trial to examine the effectiveness of a mobile-based Asthma Action Plan that will meet the national guidelines recommendation for individualized Asthma Action Plan treatment plans. The mobile app will provide immediate instructions and feedback once data is entered by the participants. This is an randomized trial which will be compared with an paper asthma action plan. Participants will be randomized through a statistical table. The mobile app will be password and Health Information Portability and Protection Act protected.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 34

Inclusion Criteria

Age ≥ 12 and ≤ 17 years.
Access to Apple or Android based smart phone
Mild to severe persistent asthma or poorly controlled asthma (see definitions below).

o A different assessment of eligibility will be performed depending on whether or not the parent reports use of a preventive asthma medication at baseline. This is consistent with 2007 National Asthma Education Prevention Program recommendations that make a strong distinction between classifying asthma severity (for children not using preventive medications) and assessing control (for children using preventive medications). If a child has used a preventive medication in the past, but reports no use of the medication in the prior 3 months, we will assess severity.)
Children not using a preventive medication at baseline: Assess for mild persistent to severe persistent asthma. Any 1 of the following, during the prior 4 weeks (as defined by parent interview in the waiting room) will determine severity:
- An average of >2 days per week with asthma symptoms
- >2 days per week with rescue medication use
- ≥2 nights per month awakened with nighttime symptoms
- Minor limitation of activity
- ≥2 episodes of asthma during the past year that have required systemic corticosteroids
Children using a preventive medication at baseline: Assess for poorly controlled asthma. Any 1 of the following, during the prior 4 weeks (as defined by parent interview in the waiting room) will determine control:
- An average of >2 days per week with asthma symptoms
- >2 days per week with rescue medication use
- ≥2 nights per month awakened with nighttime symptoms
- Some limitation of activity
- ≥2 episodes of asthma during the past year that have required systemic corticosteroids.

Exclusion Criteria

Significant underlying respiratory disease other than asthma (such as cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease) that could potentially interfere with asthma-related outcome measures.
Significant co-morbid conditions (such as moderate to severe developmental delay, i.e. special education classroom or diagnosis) that could preclude participation in an education-based intervention.
Inability to speak or understand English (child or parent).
Children in foster care or other situations in which consent cannot be obtained from a guardian.
Prior enrollment in the study.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Paper Asthma Action Plan	Paper Asthma Action Plan	Participants will utilize a paper-based asthma action plan to record asthma symptoms, peak flows, and medication usage.
Mobile Phone	Mobile Phone	Participants will record asthma symptoms, medication usage, and peak flow data on their phones.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Asthma Control Test Scores	Baseline and Six months	The Asthma Control Test™ (ACT) is a 5 question health survey used to measure asthma control in individuals 12 years of age and older. The total sum scores range from 5-25. Higher scores mean that asthma is more controlled. The ACT is an efficient, reliable, and valid method of measuring asthma control, with or without, lung functioning measures such as spirometry. ACT helps identify and detect asthma patients who are not well controlled. ACT scores were examined pre- and post-intervention. A score total of 19 or less means asthma may not be well controlled. The timeframe is during the past 4 weeks. The scale range for Question 1 is "all the time" (1) to "none of the time" (5); Question 2 range: "more than once a day" (1) to "not at all" (5); Question 3 range: "4 or more nights a week" (1) to "not at all" (5); Question 4 range: "3 or more times per day" (1) to "not at all" (5); Question 5 range: "not controlled at all" (1) to "completely controlled" (5).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Asthma Self-Efficacy Scores	Baseline and Six months	The Child Self-Efficacy instrument is a 14 item validated questionnaire designed to measure the child's self-efficacy with regard to attack prevention and attack management. The child will be required to select one of 5 responses ranging from "not at all sure" (1 point); "a little bit sure" (2 points); "fairly sure" (3 points); "quite sure" (4 points) to "completely sure" (5 points). Total score range from 14-70. The attack prevention scale range from 6-30 and attack management range from 8-40. The higher score represent a greater degree of self-efficacy. The Cronbach's α reliability = 0.75. The child self-efficacy questionnaire will be administered at baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the intervention (post-intervention).