A Randomized Trial Examining the Effectiveness of Mobile-Based Asthma Action Plans vs. Paper Asthma Action Plans

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 12 and ≤ 17 years.
• Access to Apple or Android based smart phone
• Mild to severe persistent asthma or poorly controlled asthma (see definitions below).

o A different assessment of eligibility will be performed depending on whether or not the parent reports use of a preventive asthma medication at baseline. This is consistent with 2007 National Asthma Education Prevention Program recommendations that make a strong distinction between classifying asthma severity (for children not using preventive medications) and assessing control (for children using preventive medications). If a child has used a preventive medication in the past, but reports no use of the medication in the prior 3 months, we will assess severity.)

• Children not using a preventive medication at baseline: Assess for mild persistent to severe persistent asthma. Any 1 of the following, during the prior 4 weeks (as defined by parent interview in the waiting room) will determine severity:
• An average of >2 days per week with asthma symptoms
• >2 days per week with rescue medication use
• ≥2 nights per month awakened with nighttime symptoms
• Minor limitation of activity
• ≥2 episodes of asthma during the past year that have required systemic corticosteroids
• Children using a preventive medication at baseline: Assess for poorly controlled asthma. Any 1 of the following, during the prior 4 weeks (as defined by parent interview in the waiting room) will determine control:
• An average of >2 days per week with asthma symptoms
• >2 days per week with rescue medication use
• ≥2 nights per month awakened with nighttime symptoms
• Some limitation of activity
• ≥2 episodes of asthma during the past year that have required systemic corticosteroids.

Exclusion Criteria

• Significant underlying respiratory disease other than asthma (such as cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease) that could potentially interfere with asthma-related outcome measures.
• Significant co-morbid conditions (such as moderate to severe developmental delay, i.e. special education classroom or diagnosis) that could preclude participation in an education-based intervention.
• Inability to speak or understand English (child or parent).
• Children in foster care or other situations in which consent cannot be obtained from a guardian.
• Prior enrollment in the study.