Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app.
The app, produced by Menzies Child Health Division, uses interactive images, audio and quizzes to teach people about various conditions affecting the lungs and is available in eight different languages used in northern and central Australia.
Originally released in 2020 with a focus on asthma, the app has been expanded to include other common childhood lung conditions such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia and bronchiectasis.
In Australia, the burden of ill health from acute and chronic lung diseases remains high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Health education that is culturally appropriate is important to reduce language and context barriers to health equity.
Menzies senior research fellow and project lead Dr Gabrielle McCallum says that the expanded app is an innovative way to help people access important health information about common lung conditions in their home and at their own pace.
“The team evaluated the app with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and found that knowledge of lung health significantly improved after using the app, particularly how lung conditions are treated,” Dr McCallum said.
“Health care professionals also described the app as an innovative and effective method of providing lung education to culturally and linguistically diverse groups.”
The Lung Health for Kids app is freely available on both Google Play and the Apple Store.
Languages available in the app include English, Kriol, Tiwi, Murrinh Patha, Yolngu Matha, Ptijantatjara, Western Arrente and Warlpiri.
Funding for the development of the app was provided by The Centre for Research Excellence in Respiratory Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, Asthma Australia, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and Queensland Health.