JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

High Altitude Climate Therapy (HACT) includes environmental trigger avoidance in the alpine climate with multidisciplinary clinical treatment. Patients with severe and/or difficult-to-control asthma, who are unable to reach asthma control at sea-level, can follow a 12-week lung rehabilitation program at 1600 meters above sea level. Mobile health (mHealth) tools can be used to enhance self-management in these patients when they return home. In order for an mHealth application to be effective, it needs to meet the expectations of the end-users.

Objective:

In this Davos@home study we explored the attitudes towards mHealth of severe difficult-to-control asthma patients who underwent HACT and asthma healthcare providers (HCP).

Methods:

Interviews with referrers to HACT, and focus groups with asthma patients who participated in or finished HACT were conducted. Data were analysed thematically. Based on these results a questionnaire was developed. In the second stage of the study this questionnaire, combined with the Asthma Control Questionnaire and the Individual Innovativeness Questionnaire, was distributed to patients who finished HACT.

Results:

In total 11 interviews and 3 focus groups (n=18, age 47.6, ACQ 2.6) were conducted. Three themes were identified: potential goals, useful measurements, and perceived barriers and facilitators. The questionnaire included items based on the these results. The most agreed upon goal among the 64 patients who filled out the questionnaire was increasing their asthma control (84% of the patients).

Conclusions:

Different patients reported they would benefit the most from different measures. Therefore it is important to take individual (treatment) goals into consideration. When developing a mHealth intervention it is important to have personalisation options available in order to ensure not to overwhelm the users. Clinical Trial: The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Leiden University Medical Center P19.039).