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- ItemRestrictedThe feasibility and acceptability of asthma self-management delivered through a mobile phone application. A pilot study (Asthma m-health)(Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2020-11-11) Laher, BeverlyType of study: Mixed methods pilot study Problem: Despite the high rates of mortality and morbidity due chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), attention to this group of diseases is arguably insufficient both at global, regional and country level. Globally asthma is a significant cause of reduced quality of life and death in all age groups across the life span. Asthma ranks number 28 on the global burden of disease list and contributes substantially to years lived with disability. In children is it the most common NCD and has devastating socioeconomic consequences. Asthma management requires a long-term approach due its chronic nature and the variability of asthma symptoms, triggers and exacerbations. Current guidelines advocate for self-management as part of standard care. However low-income countries like Malawi struggle to accommodate this practice due to shortage of resources. Emerging literature suggest that LMICs particularly in Africa are experiencing an increase in the burden of disease which hinders delivery of self-management services. Malawi is no exception to the escalating burden of asthma amidst insufficient resources. Mobile phone health application (MHealth) have been reported to be an effective and cost-effective tool in the monitoring and management of chronic disease like asthma. This study therefore aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an asthma selfmanagement mobile phone application in a resource-limited environment. Methodology: This will be a mixed methods pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of using a mobile phone application (AsthMWa) for asthma self-management. The study will recruit a sample of 20 asthma patient aged 10-years and above, from the paediatric general clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. Participants will be issued a phone with a pre-installed application (AsthMWa) which will collect information on medication use, self-assessment of symptoms and a personal asthma action plan. Participants will also participate in semi structured interviews, collecting data on acceptability, barriers to using the app and suggestions for modifications. We will take informed consent and assent and adhere to strict data protection procedures. Expected findings and dissemination: The study will determine the feasibility and acceptability of the asthma mobile health in the self-management of asthma in a low resource setting. The qualitative and quantitative results from this study will explore the ability of the application to collect the intended information and the patients capability to use the app to manage their Asthma. These results will also for a probable baseline for future research. The findings will be presented to COMREC and the College of Medicine Research Dissemination Conference. In addition, findings will also be presented at Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
- ItemRestrictedA description of anti-asthmatic prescription patterns at QECH and 5 Blantyre district urban health centres(Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2021-07-29) Chiumia, Jeremiah; Misheck, WilliamAsthma is chronic disease of the airways and is affecting the quality of life of most individuals. The mortality rate is high due to improper management of asthma exacerbations. There is need to have strategies that ensure proper and effective ways of managing of asthma exacerbations. It is pertinent that clinicians should have standardized prescribing protocols for asthmatics. This study is aimed at describing the anti-asthmatic prescription patterns by different doctors or prescribers from different health facilities within Blantyre. The specific objectives of this study are to identify common anti- asthmatic medications prescribed at QECH and Blantyre District urban health centres, to quantify the difference in prescribing patterns between primary care (Blantyre District urban health centres) versus secondary/tertiary health care facility (Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital),to assess how severity of asthma presentations affect the anti- asthmatic prescription patterns and to determine the adherence of prescribers to Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines (MSTG) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The selected health facilities where the study will be conducted are Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Chilomoni, Zingwangwa, Gateway, Limbe, Ndirande and Bangwe health centers. All prescribers regardless of level and qualification present at the selected health facilities during the study period will be eligible for participation in the study. Data will be collected from the participants using questionnaires. Data will be analyzed using a software package called EPI-INFO and the results will be presented in tables. This study is expected to help us know the most prescribed anti-asthmatic drug and this will be evaluated using pie chart. The study is also expected to tell us the reasons as to why the prescribers are not adhering to the recommended guidelines for asthma management and this will be captured using questionnaires.