Asthma affects more than half a million Dutch people and requires strict adherence to medication in order to prevent serious health problems. The current generation of smart inhalers are equipped with sensors. They keep track of medication intake and are linked to smartphones. This is an e-health solution that is already a significant advance for patients. But according to Charlotte Poot, that smart inhaler still does not take into account the causes of incorrect or irregular use.
Inhalator en gamification
One of the biggest challenges in asthma care is ensuring treatment compliance. However, many patients have difficulty using their inhaler correctly all the time. This may be due to a lack of knowledge about the importance of regular medication, but also due to a certain perception of medication use. To increase therapy compliance, Poot introduced ‘Ademgenoot’. This is a ‘gamified reward system’ where patients are rewarded for their compliance. According to those involved, this can be particularly effective in strengthening the treatment compliance of younger asthma patients.
Digital skills
Poot’s research also extends to digital health literacy, with a focus on making e-health technologies more accessible to all patients; regardless of their digital skills. The researcher explains on the website from LUMC: “To what extent can someone search for and understand health information online? Those are digital health skills. The existing smart inhaler is designed for highly educated people who have good digital health skills. While all asthma patients should be able to use the inhaler.”
“That’s not just about user-friendliness. For example, some asthma patients said that understanding their disease helps them use the inhaler. That’s why the prototype of the new inhaler has a figure. The user can zoom in on the lungs of that figure and see in green and red what the status of his medication use is.”
Meaningful e-health
Poot’s dissertation, entitled ‘Building bridges for meaningful e-health’, covers five research projects aimed at improving asthma care through innovative e-health solutions. These studies show how important it is to involve patients in the design process, but also that a digital divide must be taken into account.
The research clearly shows that a more patient-oriented approach is needed in the development of e-health applications. By actively involving patients, healthcare technology can not only support the individual patient but also contribute to a more accessible and affordable healthcare system. Charlotte Poot: “Mine thesis concerns five research projects, three of which focus on the asthma inhaler. If asthma patients take their medication on time, this will prevent unnecessary visits to the doctor. I believe that e-health not only helps the patient, but can also keep care accessible and affordable. But then it must be meaningful e-health that works. So involve the patient, especially people with little digital health literacy.”
2024-02-14 09:27:59
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