Clinical Research Directory

Asthma Ctrl SMART Trial

The primary objective is to examine the efficacy of an mHealth adherence intervention (Asthma Ctrl) on adherence to daily inhaled corticosteroids as measured by electronically monitored adherence in adolescents with asthma. The secondary objective is to compare the effectiveness of three intervention strategies: 1. asthma management app (control); 2. Asthma Ctrl; 3. Asthma Ctrl+ on adherence, lung function, and health care utilization at post-intervention and 1- and 6-month follow-up. The third objective is to explore and contrast different challenges and combinations of challenges to identify which are most impactful in determining response to the three intervention strategies.

Improving the Quality of Care for Asthma Patients at Risk of Exacerbations

The goal of this trial test two known effective asthma strategies. Treatment guidelines recommend combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) inhaled medications. This strategy is known as MART (maintenance and reliever therapy). The second strategy is PARTICS (patient activated reliever triggered ICS) strategy instructs patients to use an ICS metered dose inhaler (ICS) each time they use their rescue inhaler. In addition, they are instructed to take 5 puffs of the ICS after each rescue nebulizer use. PARTICS has been shown to reduce exacerbations, increase asthma control and quality of life, however, the question remains if PARTICS is as effective as MART and therefore be an alternative to MART. This trial will test PARTICS and MART head-to-head. The trial will include adults with moderate-to-severe asthma at risk for an asthma exacerbation, currently using a combination ICS. The main questions aim to answer: * Is PARTICS as effective as SMART? * Might PARTICS be more effective than SMART? Is the relative effectiveness of PARTICS versus SMART affected by frequent nebulizer use for asthma relief? * Do PARTICS and SMART diverge in terms of their effectiveness on differing asthma outcomes important to patients? * Do socioeconomic factors affect the relative effectiveness of PARTICS and SMART? Researchers will compare non frequent nebulizer (NFN) users - less than once a week to frequent nebulizer users - once a week or more, to assess whether the PARTICS strategy is ono-inferior (or superior to the MART strategy in reducing exacerbations, (primary outcome), increasing asthma control and quality of life and decrease days lost from work/school or usual activities. Most participants will be consented, enrolled, and randomized virtually, others will be consented, enrolled and randomized in person. Once randomized they will be instructed on how to use the prescribed medication: * Participants randomized to MART will be instructed to use the prescribed ICS/LABA for maintenance and as needed for rescue. * Participants randomized to PARTICS will be instructed to use the prescribed ICS each time they use their rescue inhaler and take 5 puffs of the newly prescribed ICS after each rescue nebulizer use. * Participants will be followed for 16 months by monthly survey.

Metformin IN Asthma for Overweight and Obese Individuals (MINA)

This is a randomized clinical trial of metformin among overweight or obese adults with not well-controlled asthma despite maintenance inhaler therapy.

Remote Patient Monitoring Solution for Chronic Respiratory Disease Management

Aim: To evaluate the use of AeviceMD Monitoring System (AeviceMD) asthma in reducing acute exacerbation. Methodology: Using a randomized controlled trial design, this project aims evaluate the effectiveness of AeviceMD in improving patients' outcomes in terms of reducing exacerbation, healthcare utilization, improving quality of life, self-efficacy, and cost effectiveness. Paediatric patients above age 7 and adults will be recruited. The data follow-up period is 3 months. It will also evaluate the usability of the device from both patients' and clinicians' perspective. 180 patients (124 adults, 56 pediatrics) and 120 clinicians will be recruited. Importance of study: This study will evaluate if the AeviceMD can help improve disease management and reduce recurrence of asthma exacerbation. Potential benefits and risk: AeviceMD allows for remote monitoring and tracking of patients' lung sounds, which could be used by patients to monitor their lung condition and prevent an episode of exacerbation or worsening exacerbations culminating in an admission which who further utilize already limited healthcare resources. An exacerbation is an episode of severe shortness of breath, cough, and chest tightening which warrants a visit to a healthcare institution. Through self-monitoring, patients can be empowered to self-manage their asthma, with aid of the asthma action plan which is given to all patients with asthma. AeviceMD can also help provide clinicians with patients' objective lung data. In the primary care setting, care is also fragmented as patients are often followed-up by a different doctor or healthcare providers. Clinicians have no objective data to track patients, and is dependent on patients' self-report and possible recall bias. There is no expected risk with the use of the device.

Feasibility of a Smartphone Application for Asthma Self-management

The primary goal of this project is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence of a smartphone application for improving asthma self-management in a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). The app is specifically designed to appeal to adolescents. Adolescents with persistent asthma will be randomized to receive: 1) standard-of-care or 2) the self-management app in addition to standard-of-care. Feasibility will be assessed by the ability to recruit and retain subjects, technical barriers to implementation, and the appropriateness of the intervention among adolescents and providers. The acceptability of the intervention will be determined by appraising perceived usefulness, entertainment, and ease of use of the app. Adherence to usage of the app over a 6-month period will be assessed by examining the frequency of app usage and the features that were used, and the extent of data regarding self-management that was entered. A secondary objective is to obtain preliminary estimates of effectiveness of the app on clinical outcomes (ACT score, spirometry, CHSA-C, exacerbations, and medication adherence) relative to standard-of-care. It is hypothesized that the app will result in a high level of adherence and will be a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve self-management among adolescents with persistent asthma.