Smart Inhaler and Remote Asthma Management in Adolescents With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Overview

Correct use of daily medications containing inhaled corticosteroids is key for asthma control, yet children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face additional barriers to proper inhaler use. Smart inhalers, a novel technology that provides guidance and immediate feedback on inhaler use techniques, have been shown to enhance correct medication administration in the typically developing pediatric population, but their effectiveness has not been evaluated on the pediatric IDD population for remote home use. This study aims to investigate whether daily application of smart inhalers (1) is feasible, acceptable and usable in the IDD population for remote asthma management, (2) improves the rate of medication use and correct medication administration, and (3) results in improvement in lung function. This effort aims to promote better asthma management in the IDD population for remote home use.

The study is a single-blinded randomized-controlled pilot trial with a goal of 34 participants ages 10-17 years diagnosed with IDD and moderate-to-severe asthma. Subjects are recruited from subspecialty clinics and a primary care FQHC at a large, urban academic children's hospital. Participants in the intervention group are assigned to use active smart inhalers for remote home management daily for 8 weeks, and the control group receives standard asthma education and passive smart inhalers for remote home management. All participants attend three visits over 8 weeks, each scheduled four weeks apart. Primary outcomes, feasibility and acceptability, are assessed by data completeness and satisfaction surveys. Secondary outcomes, medication reminders, the Inhaler Proficiency Scales, are measured by the smart inhaler and by a trained observer and analyzed by Spearman's correlation test. Tertiary outcomes, Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) in one second, and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), are measured by a spirometer. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which measures the amount of nitric oxide exhaled from a breath in parts per billion, will be measured by a FeNO device. Demographics and outcomes are reported as frequencies (%), mean (SD), or median (IQR). Analyses will utilize generalized linear mixed-effects models to account for the within-participant correlation.