A4A+
Research type
Research Study
Full title
App for asthma connected plus (A4A+)
IRAS ID
281480
Contact name
Hilary Pinnock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 11 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Based on our earlier qualitative works, this study will build an app linking some existing smart devices to support asthma self-management. We will:
• Test the technological feasibility of linking devices through our app
• Gather feedback on the app from people with asthma and their doctors, and explore how this app might work. Patients (≥ 16yrs) with asthma will be eligible to take part in this study. We will ask patient participants to use the app for one month. We will interview patients pre and post study. With patients’ permission, we will invite their GPs/asthma nurses to an interview to explore their feedback.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the participants and researchers’ safety, all activities that involve interaction (such as interviews and provision of devices) will be carried out online and by email, until restrictions are lifted, when participants may be offered a face-to-face option.Email is used to interact with patients such as answering patients’ questions and sending the consent form. The PIS can be downloaded from our recruitment page, but if potential participants request a PIS via email, we will email it to them. If patients cannot access the internet during lockdown, we will ask if they would like to use the phone for an interview.
Summary of Results
During the COVID pandemic, patients had to rely on remote consultations to help them to live with their conditions. We aimed to explore how a connected digital system (C4A) linking with smart devices (inhaler/watch/peak flow meter) and a manual thermometer, with an option to share a report with their clinician, could support patients to look after their asthma. We recruited 10 patients to use C4A, observed their usage over a month, and undertook pre/post-interviews. We also interviewed an asthma nurse and 3 general practitioners for their views on the report format. Most patients chose to monitor their reliever inhaler rather than the preventer. 7517 data were logged, though recording reduced over the month. Patients felt “positive,” found it “easy” to use the system and chose to use devices they thought were “accurate.” Monitoring medication adjustments, having asthma (or COVID) symptoms motivated them to adopt/use the system. Clinicians wanted an overall asthma score/status and reliever usage on the report. A connected system could enable flexible digital approaches to care by providing on-going self-management data to support remote consultation. However, providing users with confidence in the “accuracy” of systems is needed to maintain patients’ motivation to use the system.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
20/SS/0081
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion