title: Adolescent asthma self-management: patient and parent-caregiver perspectives on using social media to improve care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-management of asthma can now leverage new media technologies. To optimize implementation they must employ a consumer-oriented developmental approach. This study explored benefits of and barriers to improved asthma self-management and identified key elements for the development of a digital media tool to enhance asthma control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2010 and January 2011, 18 teens with asthma and 18 parent-caregivers participated in semistructured in-depth interviews to identify mechanisms for improving asthma self-management and propose characteristics for developing a digital media tool to aid such efforts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teens and caregivers enumerated physician-recommended strategies for asthma management as well as currently employed strategies. Both groups thought of a potential digital media solution as positive, but indicated specific design requirements for such a solution to have utility. Whereas most participants perceived mobile platforms to be viable modes to improve asthma self-management, interest in having social networking capabilities was mixed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A digital media product capable of tracking conditions, triggers, and related asthma activities can be a core element of improved asthma control for youth. Improved asthma control will help decrease school absenteeism.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Research Associate, (apanze.ra@health.usf.edu), Florida Prevention Research Center & Social Marketing Group, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MDC056, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Panzera
authors.forename: Tali K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martinasek
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Couluris
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McDermott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010361:Patients; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D061108:Social Media; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: asthma; disease self-management; social marketing