The effectiveness of the use of video games and software-based programs for asthma education and self-management for children and teenagers

Ramiro Marques Inchauspe,Paulo José Cauduro Maróstica,Caroline Talhietti Rabaioli,Matteo Marques Da Silva,Sergio Saldanha Menna Barreto

doi:10.1590/fm.2021.34202

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Asthma is a chronic disease of the lower airways characterized by usually reversible airflow obstruction, inflammation, and hyperreactivity to various types of stimuli. It is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases among children and adults, with an incidence of 300 million people worldwide. Objective: To evaluate the quality of the existent evidence in the literature in order to support the use of videogames and software-based programson asthmatic children and teenager’s knowledge capacity and self-management compared with standard education. Methods: Search, selection and analysis (starting March 2016) of all the original articles on virtual reality (VR) concerning asthmatic children and adolescents (ages 3 to 18), published up to October 2017, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, at the electronic databases Pubmed, Web of Science, MedlLine and LILACS, obtained by using the descriptors: asthma, video game, virtual reality, pulmonary rehabilitation, physical training. Results: Only six original articles were obtained. Of these, five (80%) presented level of evidence A, and one (20%) presented level of evidence B. All authors point out the treatment of asthma from VR as a safe and innovative therapy considering that the motivation and intensity of treatment from the use of VR improves the self-management capacity and aerobic capacity of asthmatic patients. Conclusion: The present study seeks to contribute to the literature by demonstrating that videogames and other software-based systemscan be used to improve knowledge capacity and self-management skills in children and teenagers with asthma diagnosis.

Highlights

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lower airways characterized by usually reversible airflow obstruction, inflammation, and hyperreactivity to various types of stimuli
To evaluate the quality of the existent evidence in the literature in order to support the use of videogames and software-based programson asthmatic children and teenager’s knowledge capacity and self-management compared with standard education
Asthma is a chronic disease of the lower airways characterized by usually reversible airflow obstruction, inflammation, and hyperreactivity to various types of stimuli, manifested by episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough, having a higher incidence at night or soon after waking up

Summary

Introduction

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lower airways characterized by usually reversible airflow obstruction, inflammation, and hyperreactivity to various types of stimuli It is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases among children and adults, with an incidence of 300 million people worldwide. Asthma is a chronic disease of the lower airways characterized by usually reversible airflow obstruction, inflammation, and hyperreactivity to various types of stimuli, manifested by episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough, having a higher incidence at night or soon after waking up. Increased breathing energy expenditure combined with the possible deterioration of respiratory muscles (acute hyperinflation, steroid myopathy, and malnutrition) puts asthmatic patients at risk for respiratory muscle fatigue. The use of video games and other softwarebased programs is recent in our lives and especially in a rehabilitation program, it has already shown great potential for the area, being considered effective and safe, due to the easy access to technology and the interest of children and adolescents in this new method.[3]

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Results