Optimising inhaler technique and asthma self-management in CYP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising inhaler technique and asthma self-management in children and young people
IRAS ID
293828
Contact name
Dara O'Donoghue
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (AR) are common childhood conditions. Basic treatment with inhalers and nasal sprays is vital to control symptoms. Unfortunately, children often find it difficult to use these treatments properly. We want the children who we care for to become masters in using their inhalers and nasal sprays in order to improve their asthma control.
Teach-To-Goal (TTG) involves repeated rounds of the patient demonstrating their use of an inhaler and nasal spray back to the healthcare professional, with technical feedback and correction in between, until the patient completes all of the steps without any errors.
Video Directly Observed Therapy (v-DOT) is a mobile device application which can directly observe a patient’s therapy via video. These videos are uploaded by the patient, whilst they are using their inhaler or nasal spray. The videos are then reviewed by a specialist who provides feedback on their technique.
We want to study whether v-DOT helps children to become masters at inhaler and nasal spray technique quicker and for longer than TTG alone. Children will be divided into two groups by a process called randomisation. They will either receive ‘usual care’ (2-3 rounds of training using TTG over an 8-week period) or ‘virtual care’ (1 initial round of TTG training immediately followed by daily v-DOT). We will then compare both pathways to see if one is better.
To gain a better understanding of how and why v-DOT works for children, we will also interview patients and parents to look at their experience of this teaching programme.
When reviewing the v-DOT videos, we will also pilot a new Children's Inhaler Technique Scoring Tool (CHITS-T), which we aim to develop as a standardised tool for assessing inhaler technique in children.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
21/NI/0148
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion