A Study to Determine the Impact Gamification of Routine Airway Clearance Has on the Quality of Life for Children and Young People With Cystic Fibrosis

CF experts agree that there is a discrepancy between objective and self-reported adherence. Thus, an intervention focusing on both long-term, sustainable monitoring as well on enhancing and sustaining an efficient rate of respiratory physio is urgently needed. The device under investigation here is devoted exactly to this twofold task. Playphysio®(Pp) is a gamification system developed by Will Jackson, who has a background in product and software design but more importantly is the father of an adolescent girl with CF. The Pp is an electronic monitor which can be attached to the outside of an OPEP device. It senses patients' use of the OPEP device to enable the individual completing their existing airway clearance therapy to play mobile games throughout their treatment. Pp enables the individual to pick from a number of games to play whilst completing their normal prescribed airway clearance treatment. The games have been designed so that the ideal treatment technique is encouraged and the individual's treatment routine is supported with the counting of treatment breaths and prompting a pause to carry out their FET and cough. The aim of Pp is to enhance treatment adherence through its innovative element: gamification. It also offers objective monitoring of CF physio adherence through its technology. The Pp app offers positive feedback following the completion of treatment sessions, keeps a record of treatments done and shares this information with the CF physiotherapy team.

A previous study of an earlier Pp device have found good adherence over a 24 week period, however only 17/30 participants completed the trial. Qualitative data found positive outcomes with 2 participants making the following observations. This was an earlier prototype and changes have been made since that time to both the device and the games.

"I rely on the Playphysio for breathing into his PEP device properly. I can't imagine having to go back to the continuous monitoring and timing that used to be required before having Playphysio®" "I rely on Playphysio®. it has reduced my stress and time to get him to do it properly".

Children with CF who are using a play physio device, compared with those not using a play physio, will have a better experience of airway clearance leading to improved quality of life.