<em>AirRater:   </em><em>Early user evaluation of an innovative and unique air quality app in Tasmania</em> — YRD
  1. Schedule
  2. Hot in the City 2: Designing Spaces (Speed Talk)
  3. AirRater:   Early user evaluation of an innovative and unique air quality app in Tasmania

AirRater:   Early user evaluation of an innovative and unique air quality app in Tasmania (2801)

Sharon Campbell 1 , Nick Cooling 1 , Amanda Wheeler 1 , Grant Williamson 1 , David Bowman 1 , Fay Johnston 1 , Haydn Walters 1 , John Innis 2 , Simon Haberle 3 , Jen Sprent 1 , Fabienne Reisen 4 , Martin Cope 4
  1. University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  2. Tasmania EPA, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  3. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  4. CSIRO, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Background

AirRater is an innovative and unique air quality monitoring project delivering automated and personalised data on smoke, temperature and aeroallergens to a smartphone app or web-based interface. This enables individuals with asthma, COPD or allergic rhinitis to identify environmental factors associated with their symptoms and provides opportunities to forecast early warnings of poor air quality and heatwaves.

Objectives

To evaluate consumer satisfaction of the smartphone app and its role in adaptive behaviour and self-management of health conditions.

Methods

Registered users who had experience with the AirRater app for a minimum of three months were invited to participate in an online questionnaire. Standardised questions about the functionality of the app, frequency of symptoms, quality of life and how users adapted their behaviour in response to information on environmental conditions were evaluated.

Results

There was a 31% response rate. The app’s usefulness had a weighted average of 3.3/5 (using a 5-point Likert scale). Several adaptive responses relating to poor air quality were identified, including staying indoors on smoky days, reducing travel to smoky areas and being more careful about medication or taking preventive medications on days of poor air quality. Users liked the app’s functionality, content, navigation and speed.

Conclusions

AirRater is the world’s first personalised air quality monitoring system empowering those with chronic health conditions to make timely decisions about their self-management and adaptive capacity.

 

NOTE: I would like to present at the VCN session.