Design, Development and Evaluation of a Digital Health Assistant for Paediatric Asthma

Observational study population: Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed assent or consent, and parental/caregivers consent, depending on age. * Age 10 to 19 years. * Sufficient understanding of the Romanian language. * Digital literacy, including the parents/caregivers, as assessed by the treating physician and/or by the recruiting healthcare provider using a multiple-choice questionnaire administered to the patient and their parents after a brief introduction to the functionalities of the Alex app. * Confirmed asthma, i.e., history of recurrent wheeze, at least one spirometry in the three years prior to inclusion showing reversible obstruction (increase in forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) of ≥12% and/or ≥200ml) and/or a positive airway challenge test142. * Participants need to be under treatment with regular prescribed asthma drugs, including inhaled corticosteroids, Long-acting β adrenoceptor agonists (LABA), and/or leukotriene receptor antagonists at recruitment, with no change in their medication in the last month. Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to perform adequate lung function measurements due to physical and/or intellectual disability. * Acute asthma exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroids within four weeks prior to recruitment. * Not willing to use smartphones. * Underlying chronic respiratory disease other than asthma (cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia). * Acute lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., pneumonia, bronchitis) diagno…