Co-creation of a self-management application for asthma: A citizen science protocol
Authors:   CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Sá-Sousa Ana , Almeida Gisela ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Bastos Tiago ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Rosário Andreia ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Lopes Filipa ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Costa Emília ,   Design Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Reis António ,   Innovation on Digital Media lab, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, Figueiredo Daniela ,   CINTESIS@RISE, University of Aveiro, School of Health Sciences, Aveiro, Portugal, Neves Ana ,   CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,   Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, Loureiro Cláudia ,   Pneumology Unit, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal,   Centre of Pneumology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, Boechat José ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,   Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal, Ferreira Ana ,   CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Marques Pedro ,   2 CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Pestana Raquel ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Martins Paula ,   CINTESIS – Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Fonseca João ,   CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,   Allergy Unit, Instituto CUF Porto e Hospital CUF Porto, Porto, Portugal, Jácome Cristina ,   CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Published: April 2024

Digital health can effectively engage patients in the self-management of their asthma. Still, it will only reach its full potential when apps are aligned with patients’ needs and are integrated into clinical practice. We aim to test a framework for the involvement of patients/carers in all phases of developing and implementing an app for asthma. This protocol was co-designed with six asthma patients/carers and includes 5 tasks. Regular interactions among patients, developers and healthcare professionals will be a priority for user requirements definition (task 1) and iterative development and testing until the app’s initial version (tasks 2-3). Patients/carers and healthcare professionals will be fully engaged in the real-life feasibility study (task 4) and management and dissemination activities (task 5). The eligibility criteria to participate in tasks 2-4 are 1) diagnosis of asthma or carer of a person with asthma; 2) ≥18 years; 3) ability to use apps and access a mobile device with Internet. We anticipate applying questionnaires such as the User Experience Questionnaire and the System Usability Scale in all app testing tasks. We expect to have a final version of the asthma app that meets patients’/carers’ needs and experiences and healthcare professionals’ concerns. This will be an attractive app to support patients in self-management of their disease, keeping their asthma in control, having fewer asthma symptoms, and enjoying life. This study will be a framework for fully involving patients, carers and citizens in the iterative co-production development and implementation of an asthma app.