Adolescent Asthma Self-Management: Patient and Parent-Caregiver Perspectives on Using Social Media to Improve Care

• Published in: The Journal of school health Vol. 83; no. 12; pp. 921 - 930
• Main Authors: Panzera, Anthony D., Schneider, Tali K., Martinasek, Mary P., Lindenberger, James H., Couluris, Marisa, Bryant, Carol A., McDermott, Robert J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.12.2013; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley; American School Health Association; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Attitudes; Adolescents; Asthma; Asthma - therapy; Asthma in children; Barriers; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Caregivers; Carers; Child Health; Childhood asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Demographic aspects; Design Requirements; Disease Management; disease self-management; Diseases; Female; Florida; Handheld Devices; Health Behavior; Humans; Improvement; Internet; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Nursing; Online health care information services; Online health care service; Parent Attitudes; Parents; Patients; Pneumology; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Health Care; Self Care - methods; Self Management; Self-care, Health; Selfmanagement; Semi Structured Interviews; social marketing; Social Media; Social Networks; Teenagers; Tracking; Young Adult; Florida; United States > US; Human; Lung disease; Disease; Respiratory disease; Parent; Caregiver; Patient; Management; disease self-management; Care; social marketing; Asthma; Marketing; Improvement; Perspective; Selfcare; Adolescent; Bronchus disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Mass media; Social aspect; Public health; asthma
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12111

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Self‐management of asthma can now leverage new media technologies. To optimize implementation they must employ a consumer‐oriented developmental approach. This study explored benefits of and barriers to improved asthma self‐management and identified key elements for the development of a digital media tool to enhance asthma control. METHODS Between August 2010 and January 2011, 18 teens with asthma and 18 parent‐caregivers participated in semistructured in‐depth interviews to identify mechanisms for improving asthma self‐management and propose characteristics for developing a digital media tool to aid such efforts. RESULTS Teens and caregivers enumerated physician‐recommended strategies for asthma management as well as currently employed strategies. Both groups thought of a potential digital media solution as positive, but indicated specific design requirements for such a solution to have utility. Whereas most participants perceived mobile platforms to be viable modes to improve asthma self‐management, interest in having social networking capabilities was mixed. CONCLUSIONS A digital media product capable of tracking conditions, triggers, and related asthma activities can be a core element of improved asthma control for youth. Improved asthma control will help decrease school absenteeism.