Developing a Mobile Health Intervention for Low-Income, Urban Caregivers of Children with Asthma: A Pilot Study

This pilot study explored the initial feasibility and efficacy of providing feedback to low-income, urban caregivers of children with persistent asthma about their daily experiences reported via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) on caregiver emotional health (quality of life, perceived stress, and positive affect). Data were collected from 28 caregivers and their children (7-12 years). Caregivers completed a baseline session, 14 days of EMA surveys via smartphone, and were randomized to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received individualized EMA feedback regarding areas of daily life that may be making it harder to manage child asthma. The control group received information on general child health. Caregivers completed assessments 4 weeks and 4 months postintervention. In the EMA group, caregivers experienced an increase in perceived stress from baseline to postintervention, but a decrease in perceived stress from postintervention to follow-up. There were no significant changes in outcome measures for the control group. Preliminary findings suggest that providing caregivers with feedback from daily assessments may reduce stress, which could be targeted in future mobile health interventions for low-income, urban families of children with asthma.