Table 2 The types of data collection methods and analysis
Data | Components or operational definition | Instrument | Data analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Adoption | The number of people downloading the intervention and starting to use the app (at least once) | Google Analytics | • The number of participants who download the app |
Adherence | Continued use of an app or telehealth, not necessarily every day but at least once a month throughout the 3 months | App usage data | • The number of apps use within the 3-month feasibility study |
Retention | The number of people who continued using the app in the observational phase (months 4 and 5) | App usage data | • The number of participants who used the app during the 2-month observation period • The number of apps use during the 2-month observation period |
Sociodemographic | Information on age, gender, ethnicity, level of education and household income | Questionnaire | • A descriptive summary of the baseline sociodemographic characteristics and outcomes were reported using median and interquartile range for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical data |
|  | Health literacy level was measured using a validated 47-item questionnaire | • Limited health literacy is defined as an Index of \(<\) 33 points [29] and was reported using median and interquartile range | |
Health outcome | |||
 • Asthma control | Asthma control was measured using a 4-item validated questionnaire | Global INitiative for Asthma (GINA) Asthma Symptoms Control tool [30] | • A descriptive summary of the relevant outcomes was reported using median and interquartile range for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical data |
 • Severe asthma attacks | Deterioration of asthma control that required urgent action on the part of the patient and physician to prevent a serious outcome, such as hospitalisation or death from asthma [31] Relevant actions included commencing a course of oral steroids, inhaler use through aerochamber (during the COVID-19 pandemic) and emergency department visit for nebulisation or hospitalisation | Questionnaire |  |
 Process outcome | Ownership of asthma action plan, use of asthma action plan with the app and attendance to follow-up | Questionnaire |  |
 Facilitators and challenges in using the app | Exploring the app's use facilitators and challenges, with a focus on the potential factors influencing app adoption, adherence, and retention | Interviews | • Interviews were facilitated using a topic guide based on the Fogg Behaviour grid [28] |
|  |  |  | • Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed deductively |