Internet could help teens' asthma control
08 August 2007

Using the Internet and mobile phone text messaging services can help teenagers improve their asthma control, according to a Dutch study.

Researchers studied 97 teenagers with mild to moderate persistent asthma, who were asked to monitor their asthma control on a designated website.

They found that internet and mobile phone based asthma management tools offered a range of benefits for teenagers with poor asthma control, including:

• Easily accessible information
• The use of an electronic asthma action plan
• The ability to react to and change their asthma management, in order to improve control

The findings highlight the need to target those with poor asthma control, who could benefit the most from electronic personal asthma action plans.

Jenny Parry, Asthma UK's Children and Young People's Development Manager, said:

'This study provides an interesting insight into ways in which the internet and mobile phones can be used to engage young people with asthma and help them take control of their condition. However, we would always encourage anyone with concerns about their asthma management to make an appointment with their GP or asthma nurse.

'Our website for young people, Kick Asthma, provides a great deal of information and advice about asthma management, and a message board for them to talk with other young people with asthma.'