A number of computer based asthma education programs have been developed.  But until now, no internet-based program had yet been evaluated for its effectiveness compared to a control and using a randomized study.  In this study, families of patients under age 6 at an allergy clinic and patients ages 7-17 years received either printed and verbal asthma education or an internet-based program called IMPACT.  IMPACT is specifically designed to improve self-management of asthma by school-aged children.  Children and their families only had access to this program when they were waiting for the doctor at the clinic (computers were set up in the waiting room and in examination rooms).  Children used the program at each regular appointment – and picked up where they’d left off the previous visit. 

A minority of teenagers did not enjoy the IMPACT program (23%).  Nevertheless, the majority of users found this program to be enjoyable, interesting and easy to navigate.  Most participants were able to successfully complete most of the program after 3 visits to their doctors’ offices. 

Compared to controls, those children who used the IMPACT internet program have fewer days of symptoms (51 versus 81 days per year) and fewer emergency department visits (0.62 versus 1.93 per year).  They also required lower doses of inhaled corticosteroids and used quick-relief medicines less frequently.  As this program was only studied among rural children in allergists’ offices, the authors suggest that IMPACT be tested in other settings and with other populations, such as in schools and the range of students with asthma in school.

(Krishna S et al.  Pediatrics 2003; 111(3):503-510.)

Comment:  This sounds very promising.  For those interested, the IMPACT internet-based program was developed by the Advanced Technology Center and Children’s Hospital at University of Missouri-Columbia.             – H.T.