Digital Innovation in Asthma Management in Italy: Results From the “Confronting Asthma Survey”

IF 4.2 2区医学 Q2 ALLERGY

Clinical and Translational Allergy Pub Date : 2025-10-17 DOI:10.1002/clt2.70109

Manuela Latorre, Pierluigi Paggiaro, Cristina Cardini, Giovanni Paoletti, Emanuele Nappi, Mario Di Gioacchino, Enrico Heffler, Francesco Blasi, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Francesca Puggioni, SANI Network

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Abstract

Background

The rapid digital transformation has significantly impacted healthcare, particularly through eHealth solutions that offer great potential for managing chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma. This study explores the impact, attitudes, and acceptance of digital technologies in asthma management in Italy.

Methods

A structured 34-item survey, developed in two versions for patients and physicians, was administered independently and anonymously to adult asthma patients and to specialists in pulmonology and allergology. The questionnaires collected data on demographics, professional background, digital habits (for work and leisure), use of digital tools such as apps and smart inhalers, doctor–patient digital communication, familiarity with online health resources, and perceived barriers to digital adoption. Data were collected anonymously via REDCap, with oversight from the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI).

Results

A total of 134 patients and 180 doctors participated. Findings revealed a predominantly positive attitude toward digital tools, with 85% of physicians and 74.4% of patients embracing a “digital mindset.” Nevertheless, digital innovations remain underutilized in clinical practice. While 85.6% of patients reported regularly using digital tools in their daily lives, 91.5% stated that their doctors had never recommended apps or websites for asthma self-management. Digital solutions such as mobile apps, wearable spirometers, and telemedicine are recognized for their potential benefits—clinicians highlighted symptoms self-tracking (17.2%), improved adherence (22.7%), and enhanced clinical interventions (11.7%) as key advantages. However, adoption is hindered by concerns such as information technology (IT) compliance (62.5%), legal risks (11.5%), and skepticism about the reliability of remote data (40.6%). Furthermore, 59.9% of clinicians and 66.8% of patients recognized a knowledge gap regarding the potential benefits of smart inhalers and digital therapeutics in respiratory care.

Conclusion

The study highlights a positive attitude toward digital tools in asthma management but reveals limited adoption in clinical practice. Key barriers include IT compliance concerns and knowledge gaps. Addressing these challenges through education and regulatory support could enhance digital integration, improving asthma care.

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查看原文本刊更多论文

意大利哮喘管理的数字创新：来自“面对哮喘调查”的结果。

背景：快速的数字化转型对医疗保健产生了重大影响，特别是通过电子健康解决方案，为管理哮喘等慢性呼吸系统疾病提供了巨大潜力。本研究探讨了意大利哮喘管理中数字技术的影响、态度和接受程度。方法：对成人哮喘患者、肺病学和过敏症学专家进行独立匿名的34项结构化调查，分为患者和医生两种版本。调查问卷收集的数据包括人口统计、专业背景、数字习惯（工作和休闲）、应用程序和智能吸入器等数字工具的使用、医患数字沟通、对在线卫生资源的熟悉程度以及对采用数字技术的感知障碍。在意大利严重哮喘网络（SANI）的监督下，通过REDCap匿名收集数据。结果：共有134名患者和180名医生参与。调查结果显示，人们对数字工具的态度主要是积极的，85%的医生和74.4%的患者拥有“数字心态”。然而，数字创新在临床实践中仍未得到充分利用。虽然85.6%的患者报告在日常生活中经常使用数字工具，但91.5%的患者表示他们的医生从未推荐过哮喘自我管理的应用程序或网站。数字解决方案（如移动应用程序、可穿戴肺活量计和远程医疗）因其潜在益处而得到认可——临床医生强调了症状自我跟踪（17.2%）、提高依从性（22.7%）和增强临床干预（11.7%）是主要优势。然而，对信息技术（IT）合规性（62.5%）、法律风险（11.5%）和对远程数据可靠性的怀疑（40.6%）等问题的担忧阻碍了采用。此外，59.9%的临床医生和66.8%的患者认识到关于智能吸入器和数字治疗在呼吸保健中的潜在益处的知识差距。结论：该研究强调了对哮喘管理中数字工具的积极态度，但在临床实践中采用有限。主要障碍包括IT遵从性问题和知识差距。通过教育和监管支持来应对这些挑战，可以加强数字化整合，改善哮喘治疗。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical and Translational Allergy Immunology and Microbiology-Immunology

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

4.50%

发文量

117

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical and Translational Allergy, one of several journals in the portfolio of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, provides a platform for the dissemination of allergy research and reviews, as well as EAACI position papers, task force reports and guidelines, amongst an international scientific audience. Clinical and Translational Allergy accepts clinical and translational research in the following areas and other related topics: asthma, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, drug hypersensitivity, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic skin diseases, atopic eczema, urticaria, angioedema, venom hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis, food allergy, immunotherapy, immune modulators and biologics, animal models of allergic disease, immune mechanisms, or any other topic related to allergic disease.