Promoting Risk Reduction Among Young Adults With Asthma During Wildfire Smoke Events (TRAK)

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Asthma

Interventions: Behavioral: Smoke Sense
Behavioral: Smoke Sense Plus

Registration Number: NCT04724733

Lead Sponsor: Washington State University

Brief Summary: This research will contribute to fundamental knowledge about how young adults with asthma perceive their personal health risks to wildfire smoke, minimize their risk, and improve their health. The investigators will compare young adults who use 'Smoke Sense,' an EPA-developed smart phone application (app), with young adults who use the app plus engage in preventive activities, with young adults who do not use the app. Study aims are to:

1. Establish the feasibility (recruitment, enrollment, retention rates), acceptability (intervention engagement, fidelity, usability, attitude) and barriers and facilitators of adopting the technology of the Smoke Sense interventions and use of portable devices in young adults with asthma;

2. Explore the preliminary impact of the Smoke Sense interventions on lung function and asthma control. These primary outcomes will be assessed using objective measures (spirometry) and validated, self-report tools.

Secondary outcomes will be anxiety, exposure reduction behaviors (e.g. stayed indoors, wore a mask), and symptom mitigating behaviors (use of medication, unscheduled health care appointments), measured via self-report and a Global Positioning System device. Outcome by group will be summarized. Preliminary evidence of treatment effect and its variance will be examined for a future clinical trial;

3. Explore potential mediators (medication adherence, self-management skills, stress) and moderators (asthma severity/control) of the interventions to asthma outcomes. The long-term goal is to minimize asthma exacerbations from exposure to wildfire smoke.

The long-term goal of the study is to minimize asthma exacerbations from exposure to wildfire smoke.

Detailed Description: Exposure to unprecedented levels of wildfire smoke is increasing cardiopulmonary mortality and is especially catastrophic in people with asthma. Little evidence exists on the effectiveness of air quality (AQ) alerts on objective measures of risk reduction behavior and health outcomes. Evidence shows that young adults are less likely to adhere to AQ alerts than older adults, yet young adulthood is a time when habits are formed in chronic illness management. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Smoke Sense smart phone application (app) is an innovative risk reduction intervention based on the health belief model and theory of planned behavior. The app invites users to record their smoke observations and health symptoms, play educational trivia games, earn badges, and explore what other users are reporting. Smoke Sense connects AQ exposure data with users' symptoms, thus framing risk reduction messages as personally relevant. Although Smoke Sense has almost 25,000 users, its impact on health outcomes has not been tested. Preliminary data suggests that users' engagement in health protective behaviors was driven in response to symptoms rather than as preventive courses of action. In a high-risk asthma population, prevention is paramount. Smoke Sense Plus is an intervention that builds on the Smoke Sense app, with value-added activities, such as notifying participants to review their asthma action plan, monitoring lung function weekly via mobile spirometry and subscribing to a social network to share strategies to minimize exposure. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of the Smoke Sense interventions among young adults with asthma and pilot test the interventions compared to a control group. Sixty young adults aged 18-26 with asthma will be recruited through local universities. They will be randomized to 1 of 3 groups for a 2-month study period during wildfire season. Study aims are to:

1. Establish the feasibility (recruitment, enrollment, retention rates), acceptability (intervention engagement, fidelity, usability, attitude) and barriers and facilitators of adopting the technology of the Smoke Sense interventions and use of portable devices in young adults with asthma;51

2. Explore the preliminary impact of the Smoke Sense interventions on lung function,20 and asthma control, These primary outcomes will be assessed using objective measures (spirometry) and validated, self-report tools. Secondary outcomes will be anxiety,23 exposure reduction behaviors (e.g. stayed indoors, wore a mask),24 and symptom mitigating behaviors (use of medication, unscheduled health care appointments), measured via self-report and a Global Positioning System device. Outcome by group will be summarized. Preliminary evidence of treatment effect and its variance will be examined for a future clinical trial;

3. Explore potential mediators (medication adherence, self-management skills, stress) and moderators (asthma severity/control) of the interventions to asthma outcomes. The long-term goal is to minimize asthma exacerbations from exposure to wildfire smoke.

The long-term goal of the study is to minimize asthma exacerbations from exposure to wildfire smoke.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 67

Inclusion Criteria

18-26 years old
Diagnosed with asthma by a health care provider
Own a smart phone (Android or iOS platforms)
Speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria

Already use the Smoke Sense app
Had surgery within 3 weeks of the study start date
Have a cardio-vascular condition
Smoke
Have or have had COVID 19 (that you're aware of)

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Smoke Sense	Smoke Sense	-
Smoke Sense Plus	Smoke Sense Plus	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Lung Function, Specifically % Predicted Mean FEV1	8 weeks	Lung function indicates future risk of adverse outcomes and is regularly monitored in people with asthma. Spirometry is used to objectively measure and monitor airway obstruction by blowing into a machine and measuring forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and their ratio (FEV1/FVC). A low FEV1, \<60% predicted, is a potentially modifiable independent risk factor for severe asthma exacerbations. Portable spirometers, that are used by patients independently and connect to smartphones, have been validated against conventional spirometry performed by specialists in clinical settings.
Asthma Control Test	8 weeks	The Asthma Control Test (ACT) measures the frequency of shortness of breath and general asthma symptoms, use of rescue medications, effect of asthma on daily functioning, and an overall self-assessment of asthma control via self-report. It has 5 items, is based on self report of symptoms and daily functioning and has a response scale that ranges from 5 (poor control) to 25 (complete control). ACT score \>19 indicates well-controlled (versus 19 or \< poorly controlled) asthma. The Minimally Important Difference (MID) is 3 points between two groups or for changes over time.

Secondary Outcome Measures