Using Mobile Health to Improve Asthma Self-Management in Early Adolescence: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Early adolescence is an important developmental period where youth take primary responsibility for asthma self-management. Helpful caregiver support during this time is pivotal in determining whether early adolescents successfully develop asthma self-management behaviors. AIM2ACT is a dyadic mobile health intervention designed to increase helpful caregiver support as early adolescents engage in asthma self-management behaviors. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility and acceptability of AIM2ACT and conduct preliminary tests of efficacy.

We randomized adolescents (12-15 years old) and a caregiver to receive AIM2ACT (n = 17) or a self-guided attention control condition (n = 16) for 20 weeks. We conducted assessment visits at baseline, postintervention, and 4-month follow-up. Outcomes included family asthma management (primary outcome), adolescent asthma control, lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), asthma-related quality of life, asthma management self-efficacy, and family communication.

We randomized 33 dyads and had 100% retention in the trial among AIM2ACT participants. Dyads frequently engaged with AIM2ACT (M = 21 days for adolescents, 32.65 days for caregivers) and reported very high satisfaction with content, functionality, and helpfulness. Participants randomized to AIM2ACT had significant improvements in asthma control scores (p = .04) compared to control that surpassed the minimally clinically important difference threshold. Although not statistically significant, the magnitude of improvements in family asthma management, asthma-related quality of life, and family communication was larger in the AIM2ACT group.

AIM2ACT is a feasible and acceptable dyadic mobile health asthma self-management intervention that improves asthma control.