Smartphone App for Asthma Self-care: Assessment of Outcomes (Asthma Progession and Costs)

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan140 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether a smartphone app based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines can improve asthma control and quality of life, and decrease asthma-related costs in children. The main question it to answer whether this app can improve asthma control, increase the quality of life, and decrease asthma-related costs. Participants in the intervention group downloaded the asthma smartphone app, and followed up monthly via phone calls and clinic visits, while the control group received reminder calls. Researchers will compare with the control group to see if the intervention receives more asthma control improvement.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

140

Conditions

Asthma

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * aged between 3 and 18 years; * who had access to the smartphone app; * with asthma treatment steps 2-4, requiring regular treatment with controller medication (for at least 6 months over the past year) according to the GINA guidelines; * who had at least two clinic or emergency department visits related to asthma in the previous year. Exclusion Criteria: * Children who had comorbidities, or other major medical problems, and who did not have a smartphone or whose caregivers did not have a smartphone were excluded from the study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of participants both in intervention and control were assessed for the asthma severity change using Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (GINA) Guideline

The physician diagnoses asthma change at Taipei Hospital

Time frame: 3 and 6 months evaluation

All participants were assessed for the Asthma Control Test (ACT) change using ACT questionnaire from quality metric incorporated

The physician evaluate ACT change at Taipei Hospital for both group

Time frame: 3 and 6 months evaluation

All participants were assessed for the change of Quality of life using MiniPAQLQ

Physician and researchers evaluate the quality of life using MiniPAQLQ questionnaire

Time frame: 3 and 6 months evaluation

All participants were assessed for the Asthma Control Test change using Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) questionnaire

The physician evaluate PASS score change at Taipei Hospital for both group

Time frame: 3 and 6 months evaluation

All participants were assessed for the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) change using spirometry

The physician evaluate PEF change at Taipei Hospital for both group

Time frame: 3 and 6 months

All participants were assessed for the change of asthma cost using direct and indirect costs from national website

Researchers access the data from National Health Insurance database

Time frame: 3 and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

All participants were assessed for their age in the baseline using data of birthday information

Nurses and or researchers is responsible in filling the data from the patient admission in the Hospital

Time frame: Baseline

All participants were assessed for the total serum IgE (kU/I) change from blood assessment