Watch, Discover, Think, and Act: a model for patient education program development.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Behavioral Science
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in inner-city youth.
• Effective self-management is crucial for controlling asthma symptoms and preventing exacerbations.
• Existing interventions may not adequately address the unique needs of minority youth in urban settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a culturally competent asthma self-management computer program.
• To integrate behavioral science principles into an interactive educational tool.
• To provide a framework for evaluating the program's impact on asthma self-management behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Development of the 'Watch, Discover, Think and Act' computer program.
• Focus on teaching asthma-specific behaviors and self-regulatory processes.
• Integration of theoretical determinants (skills, self-efficacy) and behavioral science methods (role modeling, skill training).
• Cultural adaptation for inner-city minority youth.

Main Results:

• The program was designed to link self-management behaviors with their determinants.
• Theoretical methods were translated into practical strategies within the computer simulation.
• A plan for program evaluation was established, connecting impact to theoretical assumptions.

Conclusions:

• The developed program offers a novel, technology-based approach to asthma self-management for urban youth.
• The integration of behavioral science principles enhances the program's potential effectiveness.
• The planned evaluation will assess the program's theoretical underpinnings and practical outcomes.