Εffectiveness of a digital social intervention in primary care (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring whether promotion of a digital social intervention by primary care healthcare professionals and subsequent engagement with online peer support improves health and well-being of patients with asthma and is cost-effective: a randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
349517
Contact name
Anna De Simoni
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 28 days
Research summary
Does an intervention promoting engagement with an online health community (OHC) in primary care help people with troublesome asthma to experience fewer asthma symptoms?
Is the intervention cost-effective, are stakeholders satisfied and how can positive outcomes be triggered?
Approximately 4.3 patients have asthma in the UK, with one-third experiencing poor asthma control which negatively affects mortality, healthcare use, costs and patients’ psychology. Interventions focusing on self-management, by fostering behavioural and emotional well-being, can enhance asthma control and minimise co-morbidities. The National Health Services (NHS), however, has limited resources to widely promote self-management.
OHCs are becoming increasingly popular amongst patients, with millions accessing information posted by peers (other patients). Online peer support likely improves self-management of conditions and health-related outcomes. Our aim with this project, therefore, is to test the effectiveness of a digital social intervention composed of a consultation by primary care clinicians to encourage participation in an asthma OHC, followed by actual engagement with this OHC.
The intervention was designed together with stakeholders and its feasibility and acceptability amongst patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) was verified in a previous study (IRAS ID 314672). The project consists of a randomised controlled trial in 50-70 general practices in various geographical locations in England. Trial participants will be recruited via a survey, sent to approximately 31,000 patients on the asthma register (~600 patients per practice). Approximately 600 patients with troublesome asthma, interested in online peer support and not already members of an OHC will be individually randomised to two groups (one group receiving the intervention, the other receiving usual primary care alone). Participants will be followed-up for one year. Measures of clinical and cost effectiveness will be obtained.
The project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and will complete within approximately 24 months from commencement.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NE/0006
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion