Telehealth Technology for Asthma Management

Not yet recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Iraj Poureslami, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Must be taking: Relievers, Controllers

Disqualifiers: COPD

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 12 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new telehealth tool, CANATEXTS, to help people with asthma manage their symptoms more effectively. The tool provides users with an electronic asthma action plan on their phones, along with weekly text reminders and support. The study will compare this method to the usual written plan to determine if it reduces asthma attacks and improves quality of life. It suits individuals with moderate or severe asthma who have experienced an attack in the past year and are comfortable using a smartphone or tablet. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative asthma management techniques and potentially enhance quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since participants must be prescribed both reliever and controller medications, it seems likely that you will continue your current asthma medications.

What prior data suggests that this telehealth intervention is safe for asthma management?

Research has shown that CANATEXTS, a telehealth tool for managing asthma, is promising in terms of safety. In one study, participants using CANATEXTS had an 18% lower risk of asthma worsening compared to those who did not use it. This indicates the tool is both effective and safe.

CANATEXTS assists patients in managing their asthma by sending reminders and providing access to their asthma action plan on their phones. This digital approach reduces the need for doctor visits and offers more control from home. Studies have not reported any major side effects from using CANATEXTS.

Although the safety data is limited because CANATEXTS is not a medical drug or device, the positive results so far suggest it is well-tolerated and poses minimal risk. This is encouraging for those considering this technology to help manage their asthma. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the use of CANATEXTS for asthma management because it leverages telehealth technology in a way that traditional treatments do not. Unlike standard care, which typically involves written asthma action plans and in-person consultations, CANATEXTS offers an electronic asthma action plan accessible via a web link, coupled with weekly SMS check-ins. This approach allows patients to interact with their healthcare team directly through a two-way SMS feature, offering a more personalized and continuous management experience. By integrating technology, the hope is to improve patient adherence and outcomes, making asthma management more effective and convenient.

What evidence suggests that this telehealth intervention is effective for asthma management?

Research shows that CANATEXTS, a telehealth tool for managing asthma, is promising. In a previous study, patients using CANATEXTS had an 18% lower risk of asthma attacks compared to those using standard written plans. In this trial, participants in the intervention group will use CANATEXTS, which includes an electronic asthma action plan (eAAP) accessible on their phone and regular text message reminders. This technology helps people take their medication as prescribed and manage their asthma better. These findings suggest that telehealth could effectively improve asthma control and overall quality of life. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Chris Carlsten, M.D.

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with moderate or severe asthma who have had at least one exacerbation in the past year, are on both reliever and controller medications, and can use a digital device with internet. They must be able to communicate in English or French but cannot participate if they have COPD.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have a digital device with access to the internet

I have moderate or severe asthma.

I can communicate in English or French.

Exclusion Criteria

I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline questionnaires and receive individualized action plans and education

1 visit

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive either eAAP with weekly SMS reminders or wAAP with education for 12 months

12 months

3 visits (in-person), 2 calls (telephone)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for asthma control and exacerbation history

12 months

2 calls (telephone)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• CANATEXTS

Trial Overview

The CANATEXTS study tests whether a Telehealth intervention using an electronic asthma action plan (eAAP) via mobile devices, along with educational content and weekly reminders, can reduce asthma exacerbations over 12 months compared to standard written AAPs.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intervention group/telehealth Arm: will be provided access to their electronic asthma action plan (eAAP) via a web Uniform Resource Locator (URL), receive weekly short message service (SMS) check-ins for one year, and be able to communicate with the site's research coordinator (RC) and Certified Respiratory Educator (CRE) via an integrated and interactive (two-way) SMS feature to manage their asthma

Group II: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Control group/standard care Arm: will receive their written Asthma Action Plan (wAAP) and information on how to use it by the site's Certified Respiratory Educator to manage their asthma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

30

Recruited

5,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study involved 10 pediatric patients with persistent asthma who used an Internet-based telehealth system to monitor their medication adherence and asthma control, showing significant improvement in inhaler technique scores during the second study period.

Caregivers reported improved quality of life for patients in the virtual education group, and the telehealth system effectively reduced emergency department visits and hospital admissions, indicating its efficacy and acceptance among users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Internet-based store-and-forward video home telehealth system for improving asthma outcomes in children. Chan, DS., Callahan, CW., Sheets, SJ., et al.[2019]

Citations

1.

connect.careboxhealth.com

connect.careboxhealth.com/en-US/trial/listing/383965

Application of Telehealth Technology in Asthma Management

In a feasibility study to assess the safety and efficacy of CANATEXTS, an 18% reduction in the relative risk of exacerbation was observed among the intervention ...

2.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/360691096_Evaluating_a_tele-asthma_self-management_intervention_Canadian_Asthma_Text_Messaging_Study_CANATEXTS_among_adults_with_asthma_study_protocol_for_a_pragmatic_randomized_controlled_trial

Evaluating a tele-asthma self-management intervention ...

Objective: We compared electronic asthma action plans (eAAP) supported by automated text messaging service (SMS) with written asthma action plans (AAP) on ...

3.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-exacerbation-of-asthma-2-2023-5e0c4

Telehealth Technology for Asthma Management

Research shows that using telehealth technology, like video consultations and digital inhalers, can improve asthma management by enhancing medication adherence ...

4.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/268229326_Effectiveness_of_Telemedicine_for_Controlling_Asthma_Symptoms_A_Systematic_Review_and_Meta-analysis

Effectiveness of Telemedicine for Controlling Asthma ...

This study will assess the effectiveness of CANATEXTS on asthma outcomes ... The intervention includes access to an electronic asthma action plan ...

5.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11658065/

Asthma patients' perspectives on telehealth in disease ...

This study aimed to explore asthma patients' perceived applicability of TH in asthma self-management practices, to inform a future TH-based interventional ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9985125/

Efficacy of Telemedicine for the Management of Asthma

The use of telemedicine positively affects asthma management by improving symptom control, patients' quality of life, and adherence to the treatment program.