Managing Adolescent Asthma Virtually (MAAV) - ABSTRACT MANAGING ADOLESCENT ASTHMA VIRTUALLY (MAAV)
The Issue: Although asthma may affect people of all ages, backgrounds, or sex, people of color are
disproportionally burdened [1]. Nearly 25 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma, and the U.S. reports
over 3,000 preventable deaths annually with 75% higher risk for Black populations compared to Whites [1, 2].
However, Black adolescents experience the highest asthma prevalence and mortality compared to all other
pediatric groups [2]. In fact, Blacks experience risks for death caused by asthma at double to triple the
likelihood of death for all other racial/ethnic groups[1, 2]. People living in poverty also experience higher rates
of asthma, but as socioeconomic status increases, asthma rates wane [1, 2]. Conversely, asthma self-
management education and support (ASMES) is associated with multiple positive health and economic
outcomes (e.g., improved knowledge/self-care behaviors, increased lung capacity, increased use of primary
care and preventive services, and reduced acute care and inpatient hospital costs) [1, 3, 4].
The REESSI Solution: The goal of this Phase I project, Managing Adolescent Asthma Virtually (MAAV), is
to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-component interactive digital app designed to help Black
adolescents and their families manage and control childhood asthma by risk stratification algorithms or ASRA.
As part of the proposed study, we will work with our End-User and Expert Advisory Panels to design a
culturally and developmentally appropriate mobile-based intervention using a web platform. We will focus on
seven potential key topics – 1-Asthma Overview and Risks Categories, 2-Management Through
Behavioral Changes, 3-Psychosocial Stressors, 4-Asthma Medications, 5-Asthma Monitoring and Self-
Management, 6-Preventing Acute and Chronic Complications, and 7- Managing Acute and Chronic
Complications, each with six proposed intervention components in the final commercial version – (a) a
medically accurate animated ELesson, tailored to risk, (b) follow-up group chat with a certified asthma
educator, (c) provider/expert video, (d) offline scripted adolescent-caretaker discussion, (e) AI driven answers-
solutions to frequent questions-issues and (f) daily customized adherence booster texts for one year. During
Phase I, the project team will develop the content for (1) all seven modules and (2) the prototype, which will
consist of the first two topics–each including a portion of the six components, respectively.
The Project Team: The 10-month Phase I project will engage an accomplished transdisciplinary team of
experts from the fields of public health, medicine, intervention research, and digital media technology who have
successfully worked together on similar projects.
The Study: Our study is guided by two primary aims: (1) develop the prototype with a focus on two of the
seven topics in collaboration with our End-User Panel, Expert Advisory Panel, and (2) evaluate scientific merit
(knowledge) and feasibility (usability, appeal, and satisfaction), while using the NIH Commercialization
programs to dive deeper into markets and sustainable reimbursements for MAAV.
