Effectiveness and Cost Impact of a Telecommunications System in COPD

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic illnesses among veterans in the adult population, and accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality in this population. Interventions that enhance symptom self-monitoring and increase understanding of COPD therapy may lead to earlier detection of clinical deterioration permitting more timely intervention by health care providers. However, such interventions are labor-intensive and expensive, and typically require patients to go to a medical facility on a regular basis. A novel means of providing such interventions is a Telephone-Linked Computer (TLC) system, a computer-based telecommunications system that can monitor, educate, and counsel patients through regular automated conversations in patients� homes. In previous studies, we have demonstrated the applicability of TLC technology in the clinical monitoring of adults with chronic disease conditions such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Detailed Description
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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic illnesses among veterans in the adult population, and accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality in this population. Interventions that enhance symptom self-monitoring and increase understanding of COPD therapy may lead to earlier detection of clinical deterioration permitting more timely intervention by health care providers. However, such interventions are labor-intensive and expensive, and typically require patients to go to a medical facility on a regular basis. A novel means of providing such interventions is a Telephone-Linked Computer (TLC) system, a computer-based telecommunications system that can monitor, educate, and counsel patients through regular automated conversations in patients� homes. In previous studies, we have demonstrated the applicability of TLC technology in the clinical monitoring of adults with chronic disease conditions such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine whether a telecommunications system for COPD care (TLC-COPD) leads to improvements in functional status and quality of life (QOL) as well as to reductions in health care utilization and costs exceeding the TLC intervention. Methods: The study was designed in the form of a randomized controlled trial involving subjects with COPD who receive care at two Boston-area VA hospitals. Subjects were assigned to either TLC-COPD or a usual care control group. Status: Complete.

Official Title
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Effectiveness and Cost Impact of a Telecommunications System in COPD

Conditions
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Lung Diseases, Obstructive

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Telephone Monitoring


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: COPD diagnosis; FEV, < _65% pred; FEV, /FVC<_85% pred Exclusion Criteria:
Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Arm 1<br> | Procedure: Telephone Monitoring<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |