Chronic diseases formally associated with old age have been referred to young people in the recent past. According to Katwa and Rivera (2018), asthma is the most prevalent chronic condition among infants, children, and adolescents. Managing and countering it among the group mentioned requires proactive measures that involve patients' active participation to prevent extreme symptoms. Healthcare providers have consistently encouraged patients to be involved in asthma management due to its effectiveness in reducing asthma-related mortality and morbidity. Technological innovations have been helpful in the self-management of asthma patients. Multiple inventions have been in existence since the 1970s and 80s. However, the designs have been greatly improved to suit the current needs. The need to make new devices to fit specific populations and making them readily available for diverse clients has been identified as the motivation behind recent innovations that help in asthma self-management in pediatrics (Liptzin and Szefler, 2016). Today, novel technologies are majorly used in asthma self-management. The technologies rely mainly on mobile phones and the internet. Since 92% of teenagers use the internet, and 88% own mobile phones (Liptzin and Szefler, 2016), the devices fit them. Although these devices favor demographics in urban areas due to its high dependency on the internet and mobile phones, it serves most.
The novel technologies that have been at the forefront in addressing asthma management in the case's population are mobile applications. The apps send data directly to doctors, and the feedback can be given to the patient from the healthcare providers, too (Bender et al., 2015). Devices connected to the mobile phone applications that have been identified to be helpful are the smart inhalers. The applications contain the asthma action plan (AAP) too. Smart inhalers have a mouthpiece that gives instructions to the patient on the correct dosage. It reminds the patient when to take the dosage and guides the patient on its operation. The gadget is easy to use and needs less supervision. Younger clients that can take instructions can easily use the smart inhaler, but the infants and those that cannot take instructions depend on their parents or guardians for assistance.
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The smart inhaler's electronic sensors help record the intervals of medication intake, hence accurately determining the frequency of its usage. Since the inhaler is connected with the mobile apps, the inhaler's information is sent to the patient's physician regularly (Bender et al., 2015). The apps come in handy with other features too. The important component in the mobile app, as earlier mentioned, is the AAP of the patient. The app texts the patient of the routine activities as per the plan (Liptzin and Szefler, 2016). Other roles it plays are monitoring asthma control, provide education, and assesses adherence.
Bender et al. (2015) attach numerous advantages to using smart inhalers and mobile apps. One of the merits is that the use of technology reduces absence from work or school. The population referred to in this document is young people. Therefore, school matters most to them, and the correct use of the device will greatly increase their time in school. Other advantages are, reducing hospital admissions, minimizing reliever medication use, and improving lung function. Besides, the device can reduce and eliminate asthma risk by up to 60% (Liptzin and Szefler 2016). Hence, the possibility of children and teenagers stopping using the smart inhaler after their condition has been stabilized.
In conclusion, technology plays an important role in ensuring that asthma self-management is easier and little supervision is needed, especially for teenagers. However, care is given to the infants, but parents still find it convenient. Sticking to the plan and following the physician's instructions should also be adhered to achieve the expected results.
References
Bender et al (2015). Pragmatic trial of health care technologies to improve adherence to pediatric asthma treatment: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA pediatrics , 169 (4), 317-323.
Katwa, U., & Rivera, E. (2018). Asthma management in the era of smart-medicine: devices, gadgets, apps and telemedicine. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics , 85 (9), 757-762.
Liptzin, D. R., & Szefler, S. J. (2016). Evolution of asthma self-management programs in adolescents: from the crisis plan to facebook. The Journal of pediatrics , 179 , 19-23.
