JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

mHealth and uHealth are apps available for children with asthma and their caregivers. However, previous studies on mobile apps for school-aged children with asthma are limited, and most studies on interactive asthma apps did not consider interactions involving communication between children and caregivers. Therefore, a prototype mobile asthma app was developed for children and their caregivers involving features of tailored feedback messages in continuing self-management and interactions between children and caregivers.

Objective:

To identify the needs of a prototype mobile app developed for children with asthma and their caregivers.

Methods:

The needs of a prototype mobile app for 27 children with asthma aged 2–12 years and their caregivers were investigated using semi-structured interviews, after they tried the app. The good points and needs of the trial app were analyzed using the thematic analysis.

Results:

Findings on good points of app for preschool children and caregivers suggested that four themes (ingenuity of asthma knowledge, child-caregiver interaction, design of the app, and child’s interest) and six categories were identified. Findings on good points of app for school-aged children and caregivers suggested five themes (new knowledge, manga, child’s interest, design of the app, trigger of self-management, and operability of the app) and 11 categories were identified. Findings on the needs of app suggested six themes (asthma knowledge, elements for continuous, universal design, monitoring, and functions) and 12 categories were identified.

Conclusions:

Children with asthma and their caregivers had perceived the good points of the app about learning the asthma knowledge in fun including manga, interaction between child and caregiver, and easy-to-read design such as colors. They wanted not only the asthma knowledge but also universal design and enhanced elements, monitoring, and notification functions of the app.