Development and Evaluation of a Parental Guidance App for Managing Childhood Asthma

Thesis Abstract

Childhood asthma remains a significant public health challenge, contributing to increased hospitalizations, missed school days, and reduced quality of life for affected children and their families. Despite the prevalence of asthma and the availability of management guidelines, many parents struggle with consistent adherence to prescribed treatment plans, proper inhaler techniques, and recognizing early warning signs, often resulting in suboptimal health outcomes. This study aims to develop and evaluate a parental guidance application designed to support and enhance self-management practices among caregivers of children with asthma. The specific objectives are to assess the usability and acceptance of the app, evaluate its impact on parental knowledge and asthma management behaviors, and determine its effect on reducing asthma-related emergencies within the target population. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches to comprehensively examine the development, implementation, and evaluation of the app. The qualitative phase involved thematic analysis of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 30 parents of children diagnosed with asthma, health practitioners, and app developers to gather insights on parental needs, technological preferences, and clinical guidelines. These data informed the iterative design process of the app, aligned with the Health Belief Model and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), to ensure relevance and usability. The quantitative phase utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design with 120 parents recruited from pediatric clinics, randomly assigned to either the intervention group receiving the app or a control group receiving standard care. Data collection instruments include a validated asthma knowledge questionnaire, a self-reported asthma management behavior scale, and records of asthma exacerbations and hospital visits over a six-month period. Reliability and validity of the instruments were confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding 0.80 and factor analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired and independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple regression analysis to evaluate changes in parental knowledge and management practices, as well as the predictive factors of improved outcomes. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative feedback to assess user satisfaction, perceived ease of use, and barriers to app adoption. The key expected findings include a significant increase in parental knowledge scores (p < 0.01), improved adherence to management protocols, and reduced frequency of asthma-related emergencies in the intervention group compared to controls. User feedback is anticipated to highlight high levels of acceptance and usability, with suggestions for further refinement. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing evidence-based insights into digital health interventions tailored for pediatric asthma management, demonstrating the potential of mobile applications to empower parents and reduce healthcare burdens. It advances understanding of the contextual factors influencing app acceptance and effective implementation within resource-variable settings. The findings are expected to inform health policy, emphasizing the integration of technology-driven self-management tools in pediatric asthma care protocols. In conclusion, the study advocates for wider adoption and scaling of parental guidance apps, recommending continuous user-centered design improvements and integration with existing health information systems. Future research directions include longitudinal studies assessing long-term adherence and health outcomes, as well as exploring the applicability of similar digital interventions across diverse socio-economic and geographic contexts. This research underscores the imperative of leveraging mobile technology to improve childhood asthma management, ultimately aiming to enhance health outcomes and quality of life for affected children and their families.