TY - JOUR T1 - Cell Phone-Based Interactive Self-Care System Improves Asthma Control JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/09031936.00000810 SP - erj00008-2010 AU - W-T. Liu AU - C-D. Huang AU - C-H. Wang AU - K-Y. Lee AU - S-M. Lin AU - H-P. Kuo Y1 - 2010/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2010/06/18/09031936.00000810.abstract N2 - The self-management of asthma can improve clinical outcomes. Recently, cellular phones have been widely used as an efficient, instant personal communication tool. This study investigated whether the self-care system will achieve better asthma control through a cell phone-based interactive program.This was a prospective, controlled study in the outpatient clinics. From 120 consecutive patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma, 89 were eventually recruited for the study, with 43 in the cell phone group (with a cell phone-based interactive asthma self-care system).In the cell phone group, the mean PEFR significantly increased at 4 (378.2±9.3 L·min−1, n=43, p=0.020), 5 (378.2±9.2 L·min−1, n=43, p=0.008), and 6 months (382.7±8.6 L·min−1, n=43, p=0.001) compared to the control group. The predicted FEV1 value significantly increased at 6 months (65.2±3.2%, n=43, p<0.05). Patients in the cell phone group had better QOL in terms of SF-12® PCS after 3 months and fewer episodes of exacerbation and unscheduled visits than the control group. Patients in the cell phone group significantly increased their mean daily dose of either systemic or inhaled corticosteroids than in the control group.The cell phone-based interactive self-care system provides a convenient and practical self-monitoring and self-management of asthma, and improves asthma control. ER -