RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The virtual asthma clinic: Description and analysis of website-use
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA4375
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA4375
VO 48
IS suppl 60
A1 Lara van den Wijngaart
A1 Judith Geldtmeijer
A1 Jolt Roukema
A1 Annemie Boehmer
A1 Marianne Brouwer
A1 Cindy Hugen
A1 Titia Niers
A1 Arwen Sprij
A1 Noor Rikkers-Mutsaerts
A1 Bart Rottier
A1 Chris Verhaak
A1 Marielle Pijnenburg
A1 Peter Merkus
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA4375.abstract
AB Introduction Although several eHealth interventions have been shown to be effective, little is known about the actual use of these interventions among patients in real life.Aim of the study The aim were to describe and analyse website-use among children with asthma receiving online care through the virtual asthma clinic (VAC) and to develop recommendations for further use of the VAC in paediatric asthma care.Methods Observational study conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of the VAC. Website log-data of the participants were analysed in retrospect: activity (page views of information pages and treatment plan), communication with the medical team (frequency and content of messages) and login (frequency and duration) were compared between different age groups (6-11 years and 12-16 years).Results 105 children (mean age 11.2 years (± SD 2.9 years; 61% male) were included. Younger participants or parents accessed the (general) information pages significantly more often than teenagers (median page views 10 versus 4, P=.003). The median number of messages was also significantly higher (median 4 versus 2, P=.04) in the younger group. No significant difference in login frequency was found between the two age groups, but the login-frequency decreased significantly within both groups during the 16-month study period.Conclusions The VAC was used significantly different by teenagers and younger children and/or their parents regarding the need of information and communication with the medical team. Younger children used the information and communication modules more often in comparison to teenagers. These differences should be taken into account while designing an eHealth intervention for children.