insights to improve asthma management in college students
DESCRIPTION
4 insights to improve asthma management in college students and their implications. Asthma management is only 50% in the overall population, and the adolescent/young adult population is one of the worst asthma subpopulations for asthma management.TRANSCRIPT
getting asthmatic college students to use a preventative inhaler twice a day
Catherine LuDecember 2012
4 insights for
300 million people affected
250,000 deaths/year
What is asthma?Typical
bronchioleAsthmatic bronchiole
Source: “Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention” (2011). Global Initiative for Asthma.
Asthma Medication
Preventative ReliefDaily As needed
“...the most important type of treatment for most people with asthma...” -Mayo Clinic
The Problem
•Overall good asthma medication management is estimated at only 50% of asthmatics
•Young adults are one of the most difficult subpopulations to treat
• Taking a preventative inhaler daily is important to prevent asthma attacks.
Source: Adherence and Asthma Control with Mometasone Furoate versus Fluticasone Propionate in Adolescents and Young Adults with Mild Asthma. Friedman et al. Journal of Asthma, 47:994–1000, 2010.
What I Did
8 people
3 people0 were using a preventative inhaler daily
Asthmatic college students do not use a preventative inhaler because they do not feel like they need it
Insight 1
A little education about the exact benefits of a preventative inhaler increases their motivation
Insight 2
What I Did
8 people
3 people3 had an inhaler
with them
The idea: Place your inhaler next to your toothbrush for a visual morning
and nighttime reminder.
Placing their inhaler next to their toothbrush is an effective reminder and simple enough for them to want to do
Insight 3
Using the same approach digitally is also effective for administering education and reminder system
Insight 4
•Educate asthmatic college students of the benefits of using a daily inhaler
•Reminder system of placing their inhaler next to their toothbrush
•Scalable model using email may be possible
Implications
Thank you!Contact me at [email protected]