A systematic review of randomized control trials evaluating the effectiveness of interactive computerized asthma patient education programs.
BACKGROUND
Educating patients with asthma about the pathophysiology and treatment of their disease is recommended. In recent years, several computer programs have been developed to provide this education. These programs take advantage of the population's increasing skill with computers and the growth of the Internet as a source of health care information.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of published interactive computerized asthma patient education programs (CAPEPs) that have been subjected to randomized controlled trials (RCTs).


METHODS
The PubMed, ERIC, CINAHL, Psychinfo, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched (through October 3, 2005) using the following terms: asthma, patient, education, interactive, and computer.


METHODS
RCTs in English that evaluated the effect of an interactive CAPEP on the following primary end points were included in the study: hospitalizations, acute care visits, rescue inhaler use, or lung function. Secondary end points included asthma knowledge and symptoms. Trials were screened by title and abstract before full text review. Two independent investigators used a standardized data extraction form to identify the articles chosen for full review.


RESULTS
Nine of 406 citations met inclusion criteria. Four CAPEPs were computer games, 7 only studied children, and 4 focused on urban populations. One study each showed that the intervention reduced the number of hospitalizations, acute care visits, or rescue inhaler use. Two studies reported lung function improvements. Four studies showed improvement in asthma knowledge, and 5 studies reported improvements in symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Although interactive CAPEPs may improve patient asthma knowledge and symptoms, their effect on objective clinical outcomes is less consistent.
Bussey-Smith
Kristin L
KL
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. kristinb@bcm.edu
Rossen
Roger D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012984:Software