Exploring the theoretical pathways through which asthma app features can promote adolescent self-management

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Asthma self-management apps frequently lack robust theoretical foundations.
• Understanding how app features influence adolescent self-regulation is crucial for effective asthma management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how specific asthma app features impact adolescents' self-observation, self-judgment, and self-reactions based on Self-Regulation Theory (SRT).
• To identify app functionalities that support adolescents in achieving their asthma management goals.

Main Methods:

• Twenty adolescents (ages 12-16) with persistent asthma used two self-management apps for one week.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify personal asthma goals and effective app features.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was performed using MAXQDA.

Main Results:

• Adolescents' primary goal was to minimize asthma's impact on their daily lives.
• Features such as self-check quizzes, reminders, and charting significantly improved self-observation and self-judgment.
• These features fostered increased confidence in independent asthma management and control.

Conclusions:

• Asthma apps can be valuable tools for enhancing adolescent self-management skills.
• App features that promote self-observation and self-judgment can lead to increased self-efficacy and better asthma control.
• Integrating Self-Regulation Theory principles into app design can optimize effectiveness for adolescent users.