title: [Effectiveness and practicality of an internet-based asthma refresher course for children and adolescents].
abstract: METHODS
  The effectiveness and practicality of the "Luftikids" (www.luftikids.de) structured, internet-based asthma refresher course was evaluated in a pilot study with 53 patients (ages 8 - 14 years). All patients had previously participated in either an inpatient or outpatient asthma education program. This prospective study examined the effect of a 4-week refresher course on parameters such as asthma symptoms (coughing, dyspnea), the number of unscheduled doctor's visits, use of on-demand medications, number of days absent from school, and asthma monitoring using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and lung function tests. The duration of program use and the number of logins was used to investigate acceptance of the game format. Data were collected at the beginning of the study and at 4 - 6 months after the end of the online refresher course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes were shown with regard to the decrease in intensity of asthma symptoms such as coughing (p = 0.001) and dyspnea (p = 0.007), reduction in the number of unscheduled doctor's visits (p = 0.005), the use of on-demand medications (4.0 ± 6.5 vs. 1.5 ± 4.9, p = < 0.002), and the number of days absent from school (1.2 ± 2.0 vs. 0.4 ± 1.2, p = 0.003). No changes in lung function parameters were observed. The "Luftikids" program was used for an average of 302.5 ± 210.9 minutes, and the number of logins was 14 ± 9. From their self-evaluations, the children and adolescents derived "much" to "very much" benefit. Only 7.5% reported no effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in the "Luftikids" internet-based asthma refresher course resulted in fewer asthma symptoms, a decrease in unscheduled doctor's visits, reduction in the use of on-demand medications, decrease in the number of days absent from school, and improved asthma knowledge. No effect in lung function could be demonstrated. The results support the effectiveness and good acceptance of an outpatient, internet-based asthma refresher course. Young asthma patients in particular can succeed with and be motivated by this form of refresher course.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin, Pädiatrische Pneumologie und Allergologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Klinik für pädiatrische Pneumologie, Universitäts-Kinderkliniken Zürich.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greuter
authors.affiliation: Klinik für pädiatrische Pneumologie, Universitäts-Kinderkliniken Zürich.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin, Pädiatrische Pneumologie und Allergologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Steiß
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents