title: Use of digital media for the education of health professionals in the treatment of childhood asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inhalation therapy is the main treatment for asthma and its adequate use has been a factor responsible for disease control; therefore, the aim of the study was to determine whether a digital media tool, which features portability on mobile phones, modifies the assimilation of the inhalation technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 66 professionals working in the health care area with the pediatric population were selected. They were submitted to a pre-test on their knowledge of inhalation therapy. The professionals were randomized into two groups (A and B). Group A received a media application on their mobile phones showing the steps of inhalation therapy, while group B received the same information in written form only. A post-test was applied after 15 days. The results (pre- and post-) were analyzed by two pediatric pulmonologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 66 professionals, 87.9% were females. Of a total possible score of ten, the mean score obtained in the pre-test was 5.3 ± 3, and in the second test, 7.5 ± 2 (p<0.000). There were no significant differences when comparing the two groups (p=0.726). The nurses had the lowest mean scores in the initial test (2.3 ± 2); however, they were the group that learned the most with the intervention, showing similar means to those of other groups in the second test (6.1 ± 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was significant improvement in knowledge about inhalation therapy in all professional categories using both methods, demonstrating that education, when available to professionals, positively modifies medical practice.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: Helena.velasco@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Helena F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Catiane Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cassia S
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Azambuja
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Vitola
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Rosa da
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Amantéa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods
keywords: Asma; Asthma; Bronchodilators; Broncodiltadores; Prevention & control; Prevenção & Controle