Role of telehealth strategies in children with asthma in primary health care, a scoping review

Introduction: Despite having diagnostic strategies and effective treatment for childhood asthma, its management is still far from optimal in many countries. Telehealth emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative that improves accessibility and allows quality monitoring of health problems. Aim: To review the current role of remote care strategies in the management of childhood asthma. Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. We searched three bibliographic databases: pubmed, including PubMed, Cochrane library and Epistemonikos to collect studies published between 2010 and 2023. Studies evaluating telehealth interventions in the management of childhood asthma in primary care were selected and data were extracted on a predefined form. Results: The main telehealth strategies identified correspond to telephone follow-up, teleconsultation by video call, asynchronous remote follow-up through electronic messages or mobile applications. The different experiences are aimed at improving asthma control. The objectives identified are to improve adherence to control and rescue medications, improve symptom control and reinforce the use of action plans. Several studies use remote strategies targeted to help parents or caregivers optimize their children's asthma management. Studies evaluating the impact of remote care state that they are as effective as usual or face-to-face care, but also identify barriers to their use. Conclusions: Most of the studies on the use of telehealth strategies in asthma in primary care are oriented to adults, but we were able to identify studies in children and adolescents. Follow-up strategies for children with asthma show similar results to face-to-face strategies, offering advantages in facilitating access. Many caregivers face a significant workload and lack of time to travel to health centers, which could be facilitated by telehealth strategies.