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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Jun;8(6):1972-1979.e8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.02.018. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Effectiveness of myAirCoach: A mHealth Self-Management System in Asthma

Rishi J Khusial  1 , Persijn J Honkoop  2 , Omar Usmani  3 , Marcia Soares  4 , Andrew Simpson  4 , Martyn Biddiscombe  3 , Sally Meah  3 , Matteo Bonini  3 , Antonios Lalas  5 , Eleftheria Polychronidou  5 , Julia G Koopmans  6 , Konstantinos Moustakas  7 , Jiska B Snoeck-Stroband  2 , Steffen Ortmann  8 , Konstantinos Votis  5 , Dimitrios Tzovaras  5 , Kian Fan Chung  3 , Stephen Fowler  4 , Jacob K Sont  2 ; myAirCoach study group
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Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of myAirCoach: A mHealth Self-Management System in Asthma

Rishi J Khusial et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jun.
Free article

Erratum in

  • Correction.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021 Apr;9(4):1767-1768. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.02.004. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021. PMID: 33838848 No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: Self-management programs have beneficial effects on asthma control, but their implementation in clinical practice is poor. Mobile health (mHealth) could play an important role in enhancing self-management.

Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness and technology acceptance of myAirCoach-supported self-management on top of usual care in patients with asthma using inhalation medication.

Methods: Patients were recruited in 2 separate studies. The myAirCoach system consisted of an inhaler adapter, an indoor air-quality monitor, a physical activity tracker, a portable spirometer, a fraction exhaled nitric oxide device, and an app. The primary outcome was asthma control; secondary outcomes were exacerbations, quality of life, and technology acceptance. In study 1, 30 participants were randomized to either usual care or myAirCoach support for 3 to 6 months; in study 2, 12 participants were provided with the myAirCoach system in a 3-month before-after study.

Results: In study 1, asthma control improved in the intervention group compared with controls (Asthma Control Questionnaire difference, 0.70; P = .006). A total of 6 exacerbations occurred in the intervention group compared with 12 in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.31; P = .06). Asthma-related quality of life improved (mini Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire difference, 0.53; P = .04), but forced expiratory volume in 1 second was unchanged. In study 2, asthma control improved by 0.86 compared with baseline (P = .007) and quality of life by 0.16 (P = .64). Participants reported positive attitudes toward the system.

Discussion: Using the myAirCoach support system improves asthma control and quality of life, with a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations. Well-validated mHealth technologies should therefore be further studied.

Keywords: App; Asthma; Personalized care; Quality of life; Self-management; Telemedicine; eHealth; mHealth.

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