Promoting adherence to an electronic home spirometry research program after lung transplantation

Abstract

Adherence with any long-term treatment or research protocol is a challenge; this has been found to be the case with lung transplant recipients participating in an electronic home spirometry research program. Because the purpose of the current study is to develop a system for detecting early infection and rejection in lung transplant recipients, regular transmission of data by subjects to the research data center is imperative to the success of the study. Various adherence-promoting strategies have been developed by the research team to increase subject adherence with the program. An increased adherence rate has been reported after implementation of these various strategies, yet work remains to promote continually regular participation in the program by all subjects. It remains a challenge for the research team to devise creative and effective strategies for increasing adherence to regular spirometer use to provide data to develop a computerized system for detecting early infection and rejection of transplanted lung tissue.