APP-based Medical Device for Education and Training of Inhalation Technique

Conditions studied

Asthma (Part 1), COPD

About this study

Primary aim: To investigate if app-based education and training of inhalation technique improves the rate of successful inhalation techniques compared with control group at 6-12 weeks follow-up visit. Secondary aims: To evaluate the feasibility, usability, and safety of the investigational during the study period. Study design: Two-armed, parallel-designed, individual single-blinded stratified randomisation by inhaler (DPI/MDI/both DPI and MDI) controlled trial with assignment (1:1) to (1) standard care and app-based education and training of inhalation technique or (2) standard education of inhalation technique over 6-12 weeks. Subjects: Subjects from the age of 16 years with documented diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD, daily treated with dry powder inhaler (DPI) or metered dose inhaler (MDI), or both, will be invited to voluntarily participate. Exclusion criteria is age \<16 years, no access to use BankID or similar electronic personal identification service, not using smartphone of type Android or iPhone, plan to stop use DPI and/or MDI the following 6-12 weeks from inclusion. No able to independently handle and inhale through DPI or MDI device. Total sample size: Eighty subjects (females and males) with daily treatment for COPD or asthma will be sufficient, based on the assumption of 25% percentage improvement in success rate of correct inhalation technique in the interventional group compared with control group (75% versus 50%) with 80% power at 5% significance level, including dropouts at 6-12 weeks follow-up visit. Intervention: At the baseline visit patients will be randomised to app-based intervention consisting of education and training of inhalation technique of all inhalers used on daily basis (the inhalation app-module). Stratified randomisation based on type of inhaler(s); MDI, DPI or both MDI and DPI will be applied. The intervention is the inhalation app-module, which is a medical device that is embedded the AsthmaTuner app. The AsthmaTuner app is a CE-marked cloud-based system (MDR Class 2b), provided by MediTuner AB, Stockholm, Sweden. The intervention group will be instructed to use the inhalation app-module on daily basis to improve their inhalation technique. Control group: Standard education of inhalation technique using list of standardised criteria and non-app-based education of inhaler technique. Endpoints: Primary endpoint is the rate of subjects with successful inhalation techniques based on subjective critical endpoints…

Interventions

• Device: App-based education and training of inhalation technique — The inhalation flow is measured by the wireless spirometer (MIR AsthmaTuner), using connecter (Airflow Trainer) for creating inspiratory flow resistance .(adjustable resistance). The inhalation module starts with patients selecting their inhaler type (DPI or MDI). This leads to written instructions which show patients how they should inhale their medication. The patient is then forwarded to the training part of the module, which allows a patient to inhale through their spirometer which is fitted with the Airflow Trainer (MIR). The patient will be able to see how their inhalation went and will pass or fail the training. The app-based investigational device provides educational materials for patients on how to successfully use the inhaler.

Primary outcomes

• Primary endpoint is number of subjects presenting successful inhalation techniques. (6-12-week follow-up visit)