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Aflo™ Device Trial

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Asthma
Asthma in Children
Interventions
Device: aflo™ digital respiratory management platform
Other: Standard care
Registration Number
NCT05733299
Lead Sponsor
University of Ulster
Brief Summary

This randomised, prospective, controlled parallel study aims to evaluate the role and potential of the aflo™ digital platform for improving asthma control, inhalation technique and adherence in patients who use metred dose inhalers (MDI). The study will recruit 104 patients with uncontrolled asthma in the North-West of Northern Ireland. Fifty two patients will remain on standard care over 24-weeks and 52 will combine standard care with the aflo™ platform. The data collected over a 24-week period will be used to determine 1. whether the aflo™platform improves inhalation technique and user adherence to prescribed medication and 2. Lead to better asthma control and reduced symptoms as measured by the Asthma Control Test (ACT). During the study clinicians will be able to remotely monitor and review user analytics via a clinical dashboard. ACT measurements will be recorded at start and end of study. The study aims to test the functionality and impact of automated inhaler technique with real-time feedback, adherence prompts and air quality data sharing for patients who use metered dose inhalers (MDI) using the newly developed aflo™ digital respiratory management platform.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
104
Inclusion Criteria
  • Confirmed as suitable for inclusion by their General Practitioner or asthma nurse.
  • Access to WiFi and a smart phone (Android or apple phone with latest version -2) and knowledge of / carer support with using a smartphone.
  • For children (parent/ carer must register and provide smart phone access)
  • Aged > 5 years (with carer/ parental consent if < 17 years old)
  • Smart phone user/ willing to use (or parent/ carer) and have access to and knowledge of working a smart phone and WIFI / 4G
  • Currently prescribed an inhaled reliever +/- preventer medication via pressurised
  • Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) short acting beta2 agonist (SABA), inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) ICS / long acting beta2 agonist (LABA) MDI +/- spacer
  • Adherence/ symptom control issues with medication (as identified by excess use of SABA/ healthcare personnel visits/ calls/ emergency department visit/ hospital admission
  • Those who understand written and spoken English
Exclusion Criteria
  • < 5 years old
  • Other major respiratory illness or significant concurrent disease that might prevent completion of the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
aflo™ digital respiratory management platform with standard careStandard careThe new aflo™ digital respiratory management platform will provide automated inhaler technique direction, with real time quantitative personalised feedback on inhaler technique and timing.
Standard CareStandard care-
aflo™ digital respiratory management platform with standard careaflo™ digital respiratory management platformThe new aflo™ digital respiratory management platform will provide automated inhaler technique direction, with real time quantitative personalised feedback on inhaler technique and timing.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Inhaler Proficiency checklist Score (IPS)Change over 24 weeks

Inhalation score 0-7 (higher the score the greater the proficiency)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Asthma health and symptoms questionnaireChange over 24 weeks

Number of hospital visits, number of attacks (the higher number the more negative the outcome).

Medication usageChange over 24 weeks

Usage of asthma medication: increased usage of 'preventer' inhaler and decreased use of salbutamol/' reliever' inhaler

Health impairment in asthma patientsChange over 24 weeks

Measured by St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).(0: best health; 100: worse health)

InflammationChange over 24 weeks

Blood eosinophils (Sysmex full blood count)

Exhaled breath nitric oxide (FeNO)Change over 24 weeks

Measured by a FeNO monitoring system

Asthma controlChange over 24 weeks

Asthma Control Test (ACT) (0-25 with a score \<20: uncontrolled; 20-24: reasonably well controlled; 25: controlled)

Lung functionChange over 24 weeks

Lung gas exchange measured by a spirometer

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Health Hub Professionals

🇬🇧

Derry / Londonderry, N.Ireland, United Kingdom

Human Intervention Studies Unit

🇬🇧

Coleraine, N.Ireland, United Kingdom

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