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Effectiveness of eAsthmaCare on Symptoms, Childhood Asthma Control Test, and Lung Function among Asthmatic Children

  • Mobile & Wireless Health
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Abstract

A web-based self-health management system–eAsthmaCare, was developed as an intervention for asthmatic children. A randomized controlled trial was performed. Consent was obtained for 98 children with asthma to participate in the study and the pre- and post-test data collection process. The experimental group was given access to eAsthmaCare online management, the control group was subjected to general asthma management. The experimental and control groups’ asthma symptoms, Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) scores, and lung function were evaluated, and their pre- and 3-month post-test results were compared. The following records were maintained: (1) medication record (2) daily asthma symptoms log (3) monthly C-ACT and lung function records. The C-ACT results indicated a p-value of < .01 for: overall improvements to childhood asthma symptoms, time effect, group and time interaction effects, and group and time interaction effects in relation to sleeping condition on the previous day; cough symptom time effect, and group and time interaction effects; the two groups’ time effect in relation to cough symptoms; the two groups’ time effect in relation to monthly activity restrictions (number of days); and the two groups’ time effect in relation to nasal symptoms; the two groups’ time effect; and group and time interaction effects (p < .01). In terms of the predictive values for lung function (FVC, FEV1, PEFR), the improvements in both groups were not statistically significant. The implementation of the eAsthmaCare intervention might have a positive impact on pediatric patients, making it an effective management tool for monitoring asthmatic children's physical function and discomfort.

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Availability of Data and Material

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code Availability

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Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    Tzu-Ning Wen

  2. School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Li-Chi Chiang

  3. Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan

    Jing-Long Huang

  4. Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan

    Kuo-Wei Yeh & Jing-Long Huang

  5. Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Kuo-Wei Yeh & Jing-Long Huang

  6. Department and Institute of Health Service Administrations, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Hsueh-Chun Lin

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  1. Tzu-Ning Wen
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  3. Kuo-Wei Yeh
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  4. Jing-Long Huang
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Tzu Ning Wen, Hsueh-Chun Lin; Data curation: Tzu Ning Wen; Formal Analysis: Tzu Ning Wen; Supervision: Li-Chi Chiang, Jing-Long Huang; Validation: Kuo-Wei Yeh; Writing – original draft: Tzu Ning Wen; Writing – review & editing: Li-Chi Chiang.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing-Long Huang.

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Ethics Approval

This study was Medical Ethical Committee of a regional hospital in northern Taiwan (Clinical Trial Number: 99-4156B).

Consent to Participate

Written informed consent was obtained from the legal guardians of each child.

Consent for Publication

Written informed consent regarding publishing the children’s data was obtained from their legal guardians.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Wen, TN., Lin, HC., Yeh, KW. et al. Effectiveness of eAsthmaCare on Symptoms, Childhood Asthma Control Test, and Lung Function among Asthmatic Children. J Med Syst 46, 71 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-022-01853-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-022-01853-9

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