Digitally Supported Self-management Program for Patients With Asthma in Secondary Care: a Pilot Study

In the Netherlands, more than 600 thousand people have asthma. About half of these people have insufficient asthma control. This has a negative effect on their health and use of care. Insufficient knowledge about asthma and proper medication use, low self-confidence in managing asthma, and low compliance contribute to this problem. AstmaKompas is an eHealth application for asthma patients focused on self-monitoring and self-management. Astmakompas also connects patients with their healthcare professionals, among other things by giving healthcare professionals more insight into their patients' disease progression, enabling them to provide timely(er) support. In this study, AstmaKompas will be deployed and evaluated in 2 hospitals. Through questionnaires and interviews, insight will be gained into the experiences of patients and healthcare professionals with AstmaKompas. Potential effects on health outcomes and healthcare utilization will also be identified.

Inclusion Criteria:Being aged 18 years or older Not having used Astmakompas before Having a physician diagnosis of asthma Having uncontrolled asthma as defined by a score of ≥ 1.5 on the ACQ [19] Being able to understand, read and speak the Dutch language (i.e., based on self-report) Having access to the Internet and a smartphoneExclusion Criteria:Having a respiratory disease other than asthma Having a non-reversible airway obstruction