getting asthmatic college students to use a preventative inhaler twice a day

Catherine LuDecember 2012

cglu@stanford.edu

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 cglu@stanford.edu