Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

BackgroundInadequate pediatric asthma care has resulted in potentially avoidable unplanned hospital admissions and morbidity. A wide variety of digital technologies have been developed to monitor and support treatment adherence in children and adolescents with asthma. However...

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Main Authors: Madison Milne-Ives, Ching Lam, Edward Meinert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2021-09-01
Series:JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Online Access:https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/3/e27999
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author Madison Milne-Ives
Ching Lam
Edward Meinert
author_facet Madison Milne-Ives
Ching Lam
Edward Meinert
author_sort Madison Milne-Ives
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundInadequate pediatric asthma care has resulted in potentially avoidable unplanned hospital admissions and morbidity. A wide variety of digital technologies have been developed to monitor and support treatment adherence in children and adolescents with asthma. However, existing reviews need to be updated and expanded to provide an overview of the current state of research on these technologies and how they are being integrated into existing health care services and care pathways. ObjectiveThis study aims to provide an overview of the current research landscape and knowledge gaps regarding the use of digital technologies to support the care of children and adolescents with asthma. MethodsThis study was structured according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) and Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study frameworks. Five databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO) were systematically searched for studies published in English from 2014 onward. Two reviewers independently screened the references and selected studies for inclusion based on the eligibility criteria. Data were systematically extracted per research question, which were synthesized in a descriptive analysis. ResultsA wide variety of study characteristics, including the number and age of participants, study duration, and type of digital intervention, were identified. There was mixed evidence for the effectiveness of the interventions. Of the 10 studies that evaluated treatment adherence, 7 (70%) found improvements, but the evidence was inconsistent for asthma control (6/9, 67% of studies reported improvement or maintenance, but only 1 was significantly different between groups) and health outcome variables (5/9, 56% of studies found no evidence of effectiveness). The 6 studies that examined patient perceptions and assessments of acceptability and usability generally had positive findings. ConclusionsA wide range of digital interventions are being developed and evaluated to support the monitoring and treatment adherence of children and adolescents with asthma. Meta-analyses are inhibited by the use of samples with a variety of overlapping age ranges; a theoretical framework for evaluating specific age groups would aid comparison between studies. Most studies found significant evidence for improved adherence to treatment or medications, but there was mixed evidence of the impact of the digital interventions on asthma control and other health outcomes. There are gaps in the literature relating to cost-effectiveness and integration with existing clinical care pathways. This study will be necessary to determine which digital interventions for children and young people with asthma are worth supporting and adopting in the clinical care pathways.
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spelling doaj.art-75b14f6d4038426c8cb2580ec13ce3a12023-08-28T19:05:32ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222021-09-0143e2799910.2196/27999Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled TrialsMadison Milne-Iveshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7628-882XChing Lamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9137-749XEdward Meinerthttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2484-3347 BackgroundInadequate pediatric asthma care has resulted in potentially avoidable unplanned hospital admissions and morbidity. A wide variety of digital technologies have been developed to monitor and support treatment adherence in children and adolescents with asthma. However, existing reviews need to be updated and expanded to provide an overview of the current state of research on these technologies and how they are being integrated into existing health care services and care pathways. ObjectiveThis study aims to provide an overview of the current research landscape and knowledge gaps regarding the use of digital technologies to support the care of children and adolescents with asthma. MethodsThis study was structured according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) and Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study frameworks. Five databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO) were systematically searched for studies published in English from 2014 onward. Two reviewers independently screened the references and selected studies for inclusion based on the eligibility criteria. Data were systematically extracted per research question, which were synthesized in a descriptive analysis. ResultsA wide variety of study characteristics, including the number and age of participants, study duration, and type of digital intervention, were identified. There was mixed evidence for the effectiveness of the interventions. Of the 10 studies that evaluated treatment adherence, 7 (70%) found improvements, but the evidence was inconsistent for asthma control (6/9, 67% of studies reported improvement or maintenance, but only 1 was significantly different between groups) and health outcome variables (5/9, 56% of studies found no evidence of effectiveness). The 6 studies that examined patient perceptions and assessments of acceptability and usability generally had positive findings. ConclusionsA wide range of digital interventions are being developed and evaluated to support the monitoring and treatment adherence of children and adolescents with asthma. Meta-analyses are inhibited by the use of samples with a variety of overlapping age ranges; a theoretical framework for evaluating specific age groups would aid comparison between studies. Most studies found significant evidence for improved adherence to treatment or medications, but there was mixed evidence of the impact of the digital interventions on asthma control and other health outcomes. There are gaps in the literature relating to cost-effectiveness and integration with existing clinical care pathways. This study will be necessary to determine which digital interventions for children and young people with asthma are worth supporting and adopting in the clinical care pathways.https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/3/e27999
spellingShingle Madison Milne-Ives
Ching Lam
Edward Meinert
Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
title Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_fullStr Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full_unstemmed Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_short Digital Technologies for Monitoring and Improving Treatment Adherence in Children and Adolescents With Asthma: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_sort digital technologies for monitoring and improving treatment adherence in children and adolescents with asthma scoping review of randomized controlled trials
url https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/3/e27999
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