MyAsthma App, A new concept in asthma control
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has proudly announced the launch of MyAsthma, the first free personalised health app in the UK that has been designed to help asthma sufferers over the age of 12 to take greater control over the disease. The app features an ACT, or Asthma Control Test™ , which is test that lasts 30 seconds and has been developed by leading experts in the field of asthma.
This test gives patients a measure of their asthma control by using an easy to understand scoring system. Whilst many UK patients are receiving treatment for their asthma, a survey recently revealed that nearly 50% of sufferers do not have their asthma under control.
MyAsthma combines the latest technology with traditional asthma measurement procedures to provide a personalised plan daily that is aimed at helping sufferers to manage their asthma better.MyAsthma is an exciting breakthrough for asthma sufferers as it uses the latest technology to help them to both understand better and thus control this disease.
MyAsthma is also designed to be used by the carers of asthma patients, especially parents, and it is a great way to educate older children in how to control their asthma effectively.
“This creates a habit that they can carry into adulthood, a significant and positive step for the future of asthma care in the UK” said Dr Mike Thomas, Asthma UK Senior Research Fellow with the University of Aberdeen.“Empowering patients to take more control of long-term conditions not only leads to improved health outcomes but also cost savings”
Asthma is a chronic condition of the airways with symptoms including breathing difficulties and sudden episodes of breathlessness. Asthma affects approximately 5.4 million people in the UK with 4.3m adults and 1.1m children, currently receiving treatment for mild, moderate or severe asthma.
When not well controlled, asthma symptoms can result in hospitalisation, even fatality. Asthma places a significant economic burden on both individuals and society. The NHS spends around £1 billion a year treating and caring for people with asthma and between 2008 and 2009, up to 1.1 million working days were lost due to breathing or lung problems.[iii]
Designed with the support of a panel of asthma experts and Professor Rob Horne, a behavioural psychologist at the University of London, MyAsthma displays localised information on asthma triggers such as pollen count, pollution and weather. It is enabled to help patients track their symptoms and ACT score evolution over time and contains a library with useful information about asthma.
An algorithm generates tailored messages, based on a person’s ACT score and individual profiles, to help people address the personal barriers they face and to help them improve their management of the condition. MyAsthma is convenient and easy to use allowing patients to track their asthma control at the quick touch of a smartphone screen, which can help to create a more informed dialogue during consultations with their healthcare professional.
Are you in control of your asthma? ‘ACT’ now with MyAsthma and visit myasthma.com.
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