Internet-based self-management improved asthma control after 3 months but all benefits were lost after 1 year

Asthma control often is poor in adolescents. Some studies have shown that Internet-based self-management (IBSM) improves asthma-related quality of life in adults.

This randomized controlled trial from The Netherlands included adolescents (12-18 years) with persistent and not well-controlled asthma who were allocated to IBSM (46 patients) or usual care (44).

IBSM consisted of weekly monitoring of asthma control and treatment advice by a web-based algorithm.

At 3 months, asthma-related quality of life (Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, PAQLQ) improved by IBSM. However, at 12 months there was no difference between the 2 groups. Similar trend was found with Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

Internet-based self-management (IBSM) improved asthma-related quality of life and asthma control in adolescents after 3 months, but the benefits were lost after 12 months.

References:

Internet-based self-management compared with usual care in adolescents with asthma: a randomized controlled trial. Rikkers-Mutsaerts ER, Winters AE, Bakker MJ, van Stel HF, van der Meer V, de Jongste JC, Sont JK; SMASHING Study Group. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012 Dec;47(12):1170-9. doi: 10.1002/ppul.22575. Epub 2012 May 29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22644646
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