What do patients want in an asthma app?

Background: Asthma is estimated to affect 300 million people worldwide, and the literature advocate beneficial effect of self-management programmes on asthma control. Use of smartphones and tablet applications for self-management of asthma is in progress, showing promising results in patient self-management. Understanding patients’ perspectives is a fundamental step in the development of user-centered mHealth systems.Aim and objective: We wanted to develop an app for patients diagnosed with asthma and treated at an outpatient asthma clinic and to examine the patients’ experience and demands for this app.Method: A qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews with 20 patients was conducted during the period 12/6 to 6/2 2019. Data were analysed inspired by Kvale et al. focusing on the patient’s views on what was considered useful in a clinical app. We were looking for patients’ constraints and possibilities of using an app in asthma self-management.Results: The interviews revealed that tools such as assessment of peakflow, plan of action, self-management, and a device to insure correct inhalation technic, was considered as useful tools in the app. Also the possibility of corresponding with the clinician between appointments and booking own appointments was in demand. Only one patient would not use an app at all due to dyslexia, two patients needed further education in using an app. All the other patients had experience in using apps.Conclusion: Patients’ perspectives showed that an app as a tool in self-management was considered useful if it was used in collaboration with health professionals.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, OA270.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).