Pengaruh Pemberian Edukasi Digital Melalui Aplikasi Ponsel Pintar Terhadap Tingkat Kontrol Pasien Asma di Poli Rawat Jalan RS Usu Medan

Abstract

Background Enhancing asthma patient education is crucial for advancing knowledge and quality control in asthma management. In today's digital era, patient education can be effectively facilitated through digital health applications. Nonetheless, the utilization of such applications for patient education remains relatively novel among asthma patients in Indonesia. Hence, this research aims to evaluate the impact of digital education provided via the "Paru Sehat" application on the asthma control level of patients receiving outpatient care at USU Hospital Medan. Method The study employs a quasi-experimental design with a within-subject (pre-post) using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) for patients diagnosed with asthma in the outpatient clinic of the University of North Sumatera Hospital Medan which will be assessed before and after exposure to education from the "Paru Sehat" application once a week for 4 weeks. Results Univariate analysis was conducted using frequency distribution with respondents aged predominantly between 16 to 45 years (48%), being women (80%) housewives (48%), had a Normal Body Mass Index (BMI), (52%), had no comorbidities (68%), and experiencing severe persistent asthma degree (44%). A difference test was employed using the Wilcoxon test which revealed that the provision of digital education did not yield a statistically significant effect on asthma control, with a p value of 0.058. Conclusion The implementation of digital education via the "Paru Sehat" smartphone application does not exhibit a statistically significant impact on the level of asthma control among patients receiving treatment at the Outpatient Clinic of USU Hospital Medan.