title: Engagement in "My Child's Asthma", an interactive web-based pediatric asthma management intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Internet is a promising tool for delivering health behavior change programs although such interventions raise questions about participant engagement in this medium. In this study we sought to determine the characteristics of parents who engage in an Internet-based health intervention for their children (with asthma) and to distinguish parents who engage at the prescribed intervals versus those who engage less often.
  
  
  METHODS
  N=283 parents with children who had asthma were recruited and randomized to receive a web-based intervention. Participants filled out six surveys over a 6-month period asking them about demographic and clinical characteristics, outcome expectations and self-efficacy beliefs regarding asthma control for their child, and attitudes about computers and the Internet. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population and analyze associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controller use and being adherent to this medication as well as positive outcome and self efficacy expectations were associated with increased engagement. Parents who logged on only once reported significantly less frequent use of the Internet than parents who logged on to all sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that it is important to find ways to increase engagement in a web-based intervention for parents who are not yet engaging in the recommended behaviors and/or who report less positive outcome and efficacy expectations around asthma management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, United States. hendrika@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Hendrika
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meischke
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy