EFFECTIVENESS OF TELEMEDICINE INTERVENTIONS IN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN: A COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(2), 261-268. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.02.649

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine has evolved as a potential method of distant healthcare delivery, especially the management of chronic illnesses such as asthma. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of telemedicine treatments in asthma. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with n=114 asthma children from the different private schools of district Hyderabad for the period of 01 year from August 2023 to July 2024, using the convenience sampling technique. Patients received remote asthma management services, such as virtual consultations, remote symptom monitoring, and education via digital platforms. The primary outcomes were asthma-related symptoms. Data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 26.0) Descriptive statistics and Chi square tests were applied for association. RESULTS: 114 students from 13 different private schools were enrolled with a participation percentage of 79.1%. Sixty-eight (59.46%) of the 114 children enrolled were male, with a mean age of 7.7 (1.5). Children had more symptom-free days (SFDs) after the intervention compared to baseline (11.6 vs 7.0; difference, 4.6; 95% CI, 0.15-1.22; P =.01). Furthermore, compared to baseline, children reported fewer symptom days, symptom nights, and days with limited activity post treatment. Furthermore, more children were prescribed preventive asthma medication, while fewer children required emergency department visits or hospitalizations for asthma (7% vs 15%; odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.84). CONCLUSION: Our research showed that school-based programs have a favorable influence on improving care and outcomes for children with chronic asthma. We have successfully increased access to guideline-based therapies and facilitated appropriate primary care follow-up assessments by integrating telemedicine with school based care.