A Scoping Review of the Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions for Asthma Self-Management in African American Adolescents and Emerging Adults
Abstract
Background: Asthma remains one of the highly prevalent chronic lower respiratory diseases in the United States, affecting 24.9 million Americans. African Americans constitute the second most affected ethnic group in the U.S., accounting for 10.9% (4.2 million) of all cases.
Objective: A comprehensive scoping review was conducted to identify trends and gaps about the effectiveness, feasibility, and user-experience of mobile health (mHealth) interventions for asthma self-management, specifically targeting African American adolescents and emerging adults, a demographic disproportionately burdened by asthma morbidity and mortality.
Material & Methods: A systematic search strategy was executed across three major electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL) to identify peer-reviewed literature published between 2012 and 2021. Eligibility criteria included studies focusing on African American adolescents (ages 10–19) and emerging adults (ages 18–29) with a diagnosis of asthma, utilizing mHealth technologies. The review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Results: The search yielded an initial 462 records, of which 52 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A final set of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. The aggregate sample represented a diverse range of study designs: 4 randomized controlled trials, 5 pilot/feasibility studies, 3 qualitative assessments, and 1 systematic review. Synthesis of the data indicates that mHealth interventions are largely feasible and acceptable within this population. While significant improvements in medication adherence and self-efficacy were reported in several studies, there was no significant reduction in acute healthcare utilizations.
Conclusion: mHealth interventions present a viable, scalable strategy to mitigate health disparities among African American youth with asthma. However, the translation of behavioral improvements into long-term clinical outcomes remains a challenge. Future research designs must pivot towards large-scale, longitudinal RCTs integrating social determinants of health to maximize mHealth clinical utility.
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