Monitoring of Patients With Asthma Performed by a Clinical Pharmacist Using a Mobile Application
Condition: Asthma
MeSH terms: Asthma
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lungs. In Brazil it is responsible
      for about 4 to 8 deaths per day. Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up programs for people with
      asthma have a positive impact on treatment adherence, as well as on education about the
      disease, helping patients in their self-management and recognition of their health status.
      The use of mobile applications that assist in the monitoring and self-management of people
      with asthma has been increasing significantly, but we do not have much information about
      their real impact on the control of the disease. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate
      the use of a mobile application in the monitoring and self-management of symptoms in adults
      with asthma in a pharmaceutical care program at a university outpatient clinic in São Paulo,
      Brazil.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study design: interventional study

      Patients will be selected according to eligibility criteria and after having agreed and
      signed an informed consent form, they will be randomized into one of the arms of the study.

      At the inclusion visit, demographic data, health history, medication history and allergy
      history will be collected. They will be evaluated regarding the level of asthma control using
      the ACQ-6 instrument, as well as the ability to use inhaled medications. They will receive
      the relevant guidelines regarding the activities that will be carried out during the study.

      In both arms, patients will be followed up in a 12-week pharmacotherapeutic follow-up
      program, where they will have to record weekly three measurements of peak expiratory flow and
      fill out a questionnaire to assess the control on paper (control group) or fill out a risk
      score for exacerbation contemplated in the mobile application, which the pharmacist will have
      access through a web platform (intervention group). Depending on the evolution of each
      patient, the pharmacist will provide the relevant guidelines to improve control, as well as
      referral to a medical care service, if applicable.

      During the study, a follow-up visit will be carried out and, at the end of the 12 weeks, a
      closing visit, where will be evaluated the need for medical support during the period, the
      use of systemic corticosteroids, access to control treatment, the occurrence of adverse
      event, review of pharmacotherapy and inhalation technique.
    

Intervention name(s): Mobile Application; Asthma control assessment
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Use of the cell phone application to include information about asthma symptoms which had returned with guidance on self-management.; Asthma control assessment questionnaire application in paper format
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: In both arms, patients will be followed up in a 12-week pharmacotherapeutic follow-up program, where they will have to record weekly three measurements of peak expiratory flow and fill out a questionnaire to assess the control on paper (control group) or fill out a risk score for exacerbation contemplated in the mobile application, which the pharmacist will have access through a web platform (intervention group). Depending on the evolution of each patient, the pharmacist will provide the relevant guidelines to improve control, as well as referral to a medical care service, if applicable.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Asthma; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacists; Self-Management; Mobile Applications