A new smartphone app that will help children and young people to better understand and manage their asthma has been developed by the NECLES* Health Innovation Education Cluster in collaboration with Queen Mary, University of London.
My Asthma Log enables patients to log appointments and asthma attacks, and build up a history of their asthma that they can show to their doctor. The app also includes pictures of asthma medication and information on how it works, along with links to Asthma UK’s Facebook and Twitter forums, and youtube videos about inhalers.
The free app was developed by the North East London, North Central London and Essex Health Innovation Education Cluster’s Asthma Children and Young People team, in association with QApps, Queen Mary’s ground-breaking app development venture, which aims to translate ground-breaking research and expertise into smartphone technology.
Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease in the UK and affects 1.1 million (1 in 10) children. Studies suggest that up to 75 per cent of hospital admissions with asthma are avoidable, and that patient-centred educational tools that support knowledge of treatments have the potential to improve treatment adherence, symptom control and quality of life.
Ms Robyn Hudson, Managing Director of NECLES HIEC, explains: “We think that smartphone technology and other similar platforms are ideal tools to support self management and better health. We all have forgotten pieces of paper and written instructions, but not many people leave without their mobile phone anymore! We hope that this app is a useful self management tool that helps young people take control of their Asthma.”
Catherine Clapton, HIEC Fellow for Asthma in Children and Young People at Queen Mary, University of London added: “We know from empirical research that when people have an action plan, their asthma management is improved. Hopefully this app will encourage increased dialog between patients and clinicians and this will lead to better understanding of their symptoms and control.”
Professor Peter McOwan, co-founder of QApps, added: “This is exactly the sort of thing QApps was created for. We have world class research work going on in the medical school here at Queen Mary, and it's great to play a part in getting it out there, helping the community. It’s an exciting time for QApps, we have a number of other innovative health related projects in the pipeline and I'm looking forward to their release too.”
My Asthma Log is free, and available on the Android Market, or online here: http://www.qappsonline.com/apps/my-asthma-log/
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