Asthma Management App for Asthma

(PEAKmAAP Trial)

Overseen By Rita C. Hudson Brown, BA

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute

Must be taking: Asthma controllers

Disqualifiers: Cystic fibrosis, Developmental delay, Smoker, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 12 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how an asthma management app can assist adolescents and young adults in managing asthma more effectively. It compares three groups: one using a mobile app to track asthma symptoms and receive medication and refill reminders (PEAKmAAP), another using the same app with added data sharing with their doctor (PEAKmAAP-DS), and a third group focused on nutrition reminders (NutriMap Usual Care). The aim is to determine if these digital tools enhance daily asthma management. Individuals with persistent asthma who use a controller medication and own a smartphone with internet access might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative asthma management solutions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your prescribed asthma medication, as the study focuses on using an app to manage asthma.

What prior data suggests that this app is safe for managing asthma?

Research has shown that the PEAKmAAP app is easy and practical for teenagers to use in managing their asthma. Young people find it simple to use without any problems. The app includes useful features like tracking symptoms, reminding users to take medication, and providing instant feedback.

The PEAKmAAP-DS version offers all the same features and also shares information with healthcare providers. Studies have found that this helps doctors monitor asthma symptoms more closely over time.

No serious side effects or issues have been reported with these apps. As digital tools, they generally pose lower risks than trying new medications. These apps aim to help manage asthma more effectively without adding extra burden or causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these asthma management apps because they offer a personalized and tech-forward approach to asthma care. Unlike traditional treatments, which mainly focus on medications like inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, these apps actively engage users in their daily asthma management. The PEAKmAAP app not only reminds users to take their medication and refill prescriptions but also provides educational content and video links to boost their understanding of asthma. The PEAKmAAP-DS version takes it a step further by sharing this data with the user’s primary care provider, offering a more comprehensive view of the user's health, which can lead to better-informed treatment decisions. These features make the apps a promising tool for improving asthma management and patient empowerment.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for asthma?

Research has shown that the PEAKmAAP app, available to participants in this trial, is a helpful tool for managing asthma in teenagers. Studies have found it easy to use and effective, with users experiencing better symptom control. The app assists by reminding users to take their medication and refill prescriptions, and it offers educational messages and videos about asthma. Another treatment arm in this trial involves the PEAKmAAP-DS version, which includes data sharing, allowing doctors to monitor symptoms and provide better advice. Overall, both versions aim to make daily asthma management easier and more effective. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tamara T. Perry, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Arkansas

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents and young adults aged 12 to under 21 with persistent asthma, as defined by national guidelines. They must have an ACT score of 19 or less, been prescribed asthma controller medication in the last six months, and have access to a smartphone and internet. It's not for those with other significant respiratory diseases besides asthma, severe co-morbid conditions that could affect self-monitoring, participants in recent clinical trials on asthma, or current smokers.

Inclusion Criteria

Access to the internet

I am between 12 and 20 years old.

I have been diagnosed with long-term asthma.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a health condition that could make it hard for me to manage my asthma on my own.

You are currently smoking.

You have participated in an asthma clinical trial in the last 6 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants use the PEAKmAAP app to manage asthma, with daily symptom logging and medication reminders

12 months

Monthly virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• NutriMap Usual Care
• PEAKmAAP
• PEAKmAAP-DS

Trial Overview The study tests a mobile app designed to help manage asthma more effectively among high-risk patients. The app is based on the traditional written asthma action plan but optimized for smartphones. Participants will be divided into groups: one using the standard care NutriMap app and others using different versions of the PEAKmAAP app.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PEAKmAAP-Data Sharing (DS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PEAKmAAP with Data Sharing (PEAKmAAP-DS) group will be asked to enter asthma symptoms or peak flow every day. The PEAKmAAP guides participants when to take asthma medicines and sends reminders to take their medicines every day. PEAKmAAP also provides reminders when to get asthma medicines refilled. Asthma education messages and video links are also pushed via notification. The primary care provided (PCP) will receive monthly reports to help them know how the participant's asthma symptoms are over time.

Group II: PEAKmAAP Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Pulmonary Education and Asthma Knowledge mobile asthma action plan (PEAKmAAP) group will use a mobile "app" that will help manage asthma. Participants will be asked to enter asthma symptoms or peak flow every day. The PEAKmAAP guides participants when to take asthma medicines and sends reminders to take their medicines every day. mAAP also provides reminders when to get asthma medicines refilled. Asthma education messages and video links are also pushed via notification.

Group III: Nutrition Map (NutriMap) Usual Care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will use a smartphone application that sends daily non-asthma-related reminder for attention control. Participants will be asked to log their daily fruits and vegetables eaten. Participants will answer survey questions about their asthma and symptoms management.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

141

Recruited

5,025,000+

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Collaborator

Trials

623

Recruited

10,400,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The number of asthma management apps more than doubled from 93 in 2011 to 191 in 2013, but many of these newer apps still lack comprehensive and evidence-based information, with only 13% providing supported self-care procedures.

Despite an increase in apps targeting specific skills like acute asthma management and inhaler technique, the overall quality remains low, with only 17% and 25% of these apps adhering to clinical guidelines and proper inhaler instructions, respectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The evolution of mobile apps for asthma: an updated systematic assessment of content and tools. Huckvale, K., Morrison, C., Ouyang, J., et al.[2022]

The mobile health (mHealth) platform demonstrated an 80.10% accuracy in assessing asthma attack risk using physiological and environmental sensors, indicating its potential effectiveness for asthma self-management in children.

Usability testing showed that children could easily wear and understand the system, suggesting it could be a user-friendly tool for improving asthma management and potentially reducing hospitalizations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of a Secure Wireless Sensing Smartwatch Application for the Self-Management of Pediatric Asthma. Hosseini, A., Buonocore, CM., Hashemzadeh, S., et al.[2019]

A systematic review identified 6 mHealth apps that integrate with inhaler sensors, showing modest improvements in maintenance inhaler adherence and reduced use of rescue inhalers among asthma patients.

Despite these positive effects, the apps did not significantly impact overall asthma control or health outcomes, indicating a need for more comprehensive studies to evaluate their effectiveness in managing asthma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic Review of mHealth Applications That Interface with Inhaler Sensors in Asthma. Nguyen, E., Miao, B., Pugliese, N., et al.[2021]

The ASTHMAXcel Adventures mobile app significantly improved asthma control in pediatric patients, with controlled asthma rates increasing from 30.8% at baseline to 59.0% at 6 months, particularly among boys.

Patients experienced reduced emergency department visits and oral prednisone use, with a decrease from 0.46 visits at baseline to 0.02 visits at 6 months, indicating better overall asthma management and high patient satisfaction throughout the study.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing and evaluating ASTHMAXcel adventures: A novel gamified mobile application for pediatric patients with asthma. Hsia, BC., Singh, AK., Njeze, O., et al.[2020]

Many mobile health apps, including insulin dose calculators and asthma management tools, have significant methodological weaknesses, such as poor user input validation and inappropriate recommendations, which can compromise patient safety.

A review of health apps revealed serious privacy and security issues, with 28% lacking a privacy policy and some transmitting personal data, highlighting the need for better regulation and transparency in app development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'Trust but verify'--five approaches to ensure safe medical apps. Wicks, P., Chiauzzi, E.[2022]

A review of 103 asthma apps revealed that only three provided comprehensive and reliable information about asthma, and none combined this with effective self-management tools, highlighting a significant gap in quality.

Many apps made unsupported recommendations for asthma management, and compliance with health information best practices was inconsistent, suggesting that healthcare professionals should be cautious when recommending these apps to patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Apps for asthma self-management: a systematic assessment of content and tools. Huckvale, K., Car, M., Morrison, C., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40272455/

Mobile Health App for Adolescent Asthma Self-Management Conclusions: The results demonstrate that PEAK-mAAP is a feasible and user-friendly mHealth intervention for adolescent asthma self-management.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12045068/

Mobile Health App for Adolescent Asthma Self-Management Conclusions. The results demonstrate that PEAK-mAAP is a feasible and user-friendly mHealth intervention for adolescent asthma self-management.

3. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e69903/

Comparing a Guideline-Based Mobile Health Intervention ... The study has 3 aims: (1) examine the effectiveness of PEAKmAAP in reducing asthma morbidity, as measured by the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S1929074825004615

Comparing a Guideline-Based Mobile Health Intervention ... The study has 3 aims: (1) examine the effectiveness of PEAKmAAP in reducing asthma morbidity, as measured by the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score, health care ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03842033

Implementing a Guidelines-Based M-Health Intervention ... The PEAKmAAP guides participants when to take asthma medicines and sends reminders to take their medicines every day. mAAP also provides reminders when to get ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/391121831_Mobile_Health_App_for_Adolescent_Asthma_Self-Management_Development_and_Usability_Study_of_the_Pulmonary_Education_and_Knowledge_Mobile_Asthma_Action_Plan

Mobile Health App for Adolescent Asthma Self-Management Results PEAK-mAAP integrates 7 core modules supporting personalized asthma self-management, symptom monitoring, medication tracking, and real-time feedback.