Trial of E-Health Platform Supported Care vs Usual Care After Exacerbation of COPD
Condition: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
MeSH terms: Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      There are currently 900,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive
      Pulmonary Disease (COPD), The disease is progressive and often causes disabling symptoms such
      as chronic cough, breathlessness and reduced tolerance to exercise. National Institute for
      Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that patients with COPD have a self management
      plan (SMP). The utilisation of SMP's has been shown to reduce healthcare utilisation, improve
      quality of life, and reduces the need for hospitalisation. Currently SMP's are delivered to
      patient in a paper format, myCOPD is a web based self management system which has been
      developed by Healthcare professional and patients encompasses the principles of Self
      management and offers a viable solution to a national recommendation.

      The study will compare paper self management plans against the online version myCOPD. The
      study aims to recruit 60 patients with a diagnosis of COPD during their admission to hospital
      for an exacerbation or flare up of their COPD. Patients will be given an information sheet
      during their admission and prior to leaving hospital be asked if they wish to participate in
      the study. Patients will participate in the study for no less than two months and a maximum
      of three months. 30 patients will receive written self management and 30 will receive online
      self management. There will be a total of 4 visits for the duration of the study.

      The screening visits will comprise of written or verbal consent, Demographics, Medical,
      exacerbation and healthcare utilisation history, Quality of Life questionnaires, inhaler
      technique assessment and delivery of either a written self management plan. The telephone
      visits will comprise of verbal consent and completion of the COPD Assessment Test. The End of
      Study visit will comprise of verbal consent, Demographics, Medical, exacerbation and
      healthcare utilisation history, Quality of Life questionnaires and assessment of inhaler
      technique.
    

Detailed description: 
      The study will compare paper self management plans against the online version myCOPD. The
      study aims to recruit 60 patients with a diagnosis of COPD during their admission to hospital
      for an exacerbation or flare up of their COPD. Patients will be given an information sheet
      during their admission and prior to leaving hospital be asked if they wish to participate in
      the study. Patients will participate in the study for no less than two months and a maximum
      of three months. 30 patients will receive written self management and 30 will receive online
      self management. There will be a total of 6 visits for the duration of the study.

      Visit One - Screening Visit This visit will take place within two weeks of discharge from
      hospital in the participants home and comprise of written informed consent, Demographics,
      Medical, exacerbation and healthcare utilisation history, Quality of Life questionnaires,
      inhaler technique assessment This will be assessed using the critical errors list for each
      inhaler devices. Participants will also have their technique using each of their devices
      videoed. Those that fore fill inclusion and exclusion criteria will then be randomised in one
      of two groups, those receiving paper self management and those receiving online self
      management 'myCOPD'. For those receiving written self management The study nurse will
      complete with the participant a written self management plan. For those randomised to online
      self management they will be loan an android/iOS tablet computer and be given unique access
      codes and directed to the online 'How to tutorials .

      Visit Two,Three - Telephone Visits There will be 2 telephone visits during the study and will
      comprise of verbal consent completion of the COPD Assessment Test and adverse event
      reporting.

      Visit Four - End of Study Visit This visit will take place in the participants home and
      comprise of verbal consent, Demographics, Medical, exacerbation and healthcare utilisation
      history, Quality of Life questionnaires and assessment of inhaler technique. This will be
      assessed using the critical errors list for each inhaler devices and technique will be
      videoed. Participants will also be asked to complete a feedback questionnaire to evaluate
      user experience. Those allocated online will have their tablet computers collected by the
      study team and have a written self management plan delivered.
    

Intervention name(s): myCOPD; Written Self management plan
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): myCOPD is a system that can be accessed by patients using any device that can connect to the internet and can operate in any internet browser. It contains: Educational information, Inhaler technique videos explaining the correct technique required to use different inhaler devices licensed for use in people with COPD.
Medication and symptom diaries. Appointment diary Bitesize pulmonary rehabilitation videos designed to promote and support exercises that can be done in a home setting.
Oxygen Alert Card - Users can create their own oxygen alert card online A 5 Day local weather and pollution reports - Feed for reports come from the met office and DEFRA.
A Self management plan, which consists of a traffic light system to direct patients to the most appropriate action to take should their symptoms deteriorate. The action plan is populated automatically with the information input by the patients.; The HealthQuest written self management plan was produced in 2013. It is a one page document which contains a written self management plan which can be individualised for the patient. It consists of a traffic light system to direct patients to the most appropriate action to take should their symptoms deteriorate.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care