The role of mobile health technologies in allergy care: An EAACI position paper

Abstract

Mobile health (mHealth) uses mobile communication devices such as smartphones and tablet computers to support and improve health‐related services, data and information flow, patient self‐management, surveillance, and disease management from the moment of first diagnosis to an optimized treatment. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology created a task force to assess the state of the art and future potential of mHealth in allergology. The task force endorsed the “Be He@lthy, Be Mobile” WHO initiative and debated the quality, usability, efficiency, advantages, limitations, and risks of mobile solutions for allergic diseases. The results are summarized in this position paper, analyzing also the regulatory background with regard to the “General Data Protection Regulation” and Medical Directives of the European Community. The task force assessed the design, user engagement, content, potential of inducing behavioral change, credibility/accountability, and privacy policies of mHealth products. The perspectives of healthcare professionals and allergic patients are discussed, underlining the need of thorough investigation for an effective design of mHealth technologies as auxiliary tools to improve quality of care. Within the context of precision medicine, these could facilitate the change in perspective from clinician‐ to patient‐centered care. The current and future potential of mHealth is then examined for specific areas of allergology, including allergic rhinitis, aerobiology, allergen immunotherapy, asthma, dermatological diseases, food allergies, anaphylaxis, insect venom, and drug allergy. The impact of mobile technologies and associated big data sets are outlined. Facts and recommendations for future mHealth initiatives within EAACI are listed.

EAACI Guidelines on the effective transition of adolescents and young adults with allergy and asthma

“…As most HCP have received only minimal specific training on how to manage this age group, this is likely to require additional staff training in delivering developmentally appropriate health care (Table 6). Information technology may be helpful in implementing additional support for this AYA group 93 . Some of the likely barriers and strategies facilitated to delivering a transition service for AYA are detailed in Table 7.…”

Recent developments and highlights in drug hypersensitivity

“…These systems consist of different mobile devices to support and improve health‐related services, data flow and information, patient self‐management, surveillance, and disease management from the moment of first diagnosis until reaching an optimized treatment. However, for drug allergy, these applications have been mainly used for educational purposes …”

Mobile Technology in Allergic Rhinitis: Evolution in Management or Revolution in Health and Care?

“…Jean Bousquet, MD (1-3), Ignacio J Ansotegui, MD (4), Josep M Anto, PhD (5)(6)(7)(8), Sylvie Arnavielhe, PhD (9), Claus Bachert, MD (10), Xavier Basagaña, PhD (5,7,8), Annabelle Bédard, PhD (5,7,8), Anna Bedbrook, BSc (2), Matteo Bonini, MD (11), Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich, PhD (12), Fulvio Braido, MD (13), Vicky Cardona, MD (14), Wienczyslawa Czarlewski, MD (15), Alvaro A Cruz, MD (16), Pascal Demoly, MD (17)(18), Govert De Vries, MSc (19), Stephanie Dramburg, MD (47), Eve Mathieu-Dupas, PhD (9), Marina Erhola, PhD (20), Wytske J Fokkens, MD (21), Joao A Fonseca, MD (22), Tari Haahtela, MD (23), Peter W Hellings, MD (24), Maddalena Illario, MD (25), Juan Carlos Ivancevich, MD (26), Vesa Jormanainen, MD (20), Ludger Klimek, MD (27), Piotr Kuna, MD (28), Violeta Kvedariene, MD (29), Daniel Laune, PhD (9), Désirée Larenas-Linnemann, MD (30), Olga Lourenço, PhD (31), Gabrielle L Onorato, MSc (2), Paolo M Matricardi, MD (32), Erik Melén, MD (33), Joaquim Mullol, MD (34), Nikos G Papa...…”

“…Smart devices and internet-based applications are already used in allergic rhinitis (AR) and may help to address some of the unmet needs (2). According to recent position papers from EAACI (9) and from the American College of Allergy and Immunology (10), mHealth apps can support the provision of highquality care to allergic patients, in particular those with AR and/or asthma. This is satisfying for patients and health care professionals, and has led to a reduction in health care utilization and costs.…”