The efficacy of a mobile phone application to improve adherence to treatment and self-management in people with chronic respiratory disease in Romanian population – a pilot study

Abstract

Background Many studies assessed the effect of mobile phone applications on self-management outcomes in patients with asthma but all of them presented different results. In this paper we examined the effect of a mobile phone application on self-management and disease control in Romanian population.Material and methods This study included 93 patients diagnosed with asthma that were recalled every three months for a year for assessment and treatment. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group included patients that received treatment and the second group received treatment and also used the smartphone application. Number of exacerbations and asthma control test (ACT) were recorded.Results ACT score was significantly higher for patients using also the mobile application than for the patients using the treatment alone, Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001. When considering the exacerbations rate, the patients not using the application presented an insignificant lower number of exacerbations than the group using the application, 40.74% vs. 58.97%, respectively, chi-square test, X 2 (1) = 3.105, p = 0.081. The number of exacerbations without hospitalization was significantly higher in case of the first group, when comparing to the second group, 46.3% vs 10.26%, X 2 (1) = 13.71, p < 0.001.Conclusion Our study indicates that smartphone applications are an effective way to improve asthma control and self-management when used continually in our population. We found significant positive effects in disease control and exacerbation frequency.

Evaluasi Penggunaan Aplikasi Smartphone Sebagai Media Manajemen Mandiri Untuk Mencegah Kekambuhan Pada Pasien Asma: Systematic Review

“…Penderita asma wajib melakukan konseling dengan tenaga kesehatan dan membuat rencana tindakan tertulis dalam melakukan perawatan dan tindakan secara mandiri ketika gejala asma kambuh (GINA Committee, 2022). Manajemen mandiri pada asma merupakan usaha kooperatif dalam mengurangi gejala dan mampu mengontrol gejala asma dengan mengembangkan kemitraan antara penderita dengan dokter, upaya mengidentifikasi dan mengurangi faktor risiko, mengkaji dan memantau pola asma, serta mengelola eksaserbasi asma (Munteanu et al, 2020).…”

“…Aplikasi pneumocontrol terdiri dari formulir, pengobatan, rehabilitasi paru, informasi, statistik, dan pengaturan aplikasi. Sebuah studi yang dilakukan oleh Munteanu et al, (2020) pada masyarakat Rumania yang melibatkan 93 subjek yang didiagnosis menderita asma. Subjek dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok, kelompok pertama terdiri dari 54 subjek yang mendapat perlakuan standar.…”

“…Penelitian serupa dilakukan oleh Harada et al, (2020) di Jepang, hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan aplikasi mobile dapat meningkatkan skor ACT (p=0,002). Keterbatasan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Munteanu et al, (2020) penerapan Pneumocontrol adalah jumlah subjek yang digunakan pada kedua kelompok tidak sama sehingga memungkinkan terjadinya bias.…”