Improving the Quality of Asthma Care Using the Internet
Summary
It is important for people with asthma to become involved in their asthma care and management. This study will evaluate an interactive Web site that provides tailored feedback and information to asthma patients and encourages them to ask their doctor specific questions about their asthma care.
Description
Asthma is a common cause of illness and lost productivity, including missed days of work and school, in the United States. It is important for people with asthma to become involved in their treatment and care. Previous studies have shown that encouraging people to ask their doctor for various medical tests and treatments improves preventive care (e.g., cancer screenings), but more research is needed on the effect this can have on asthma management. This study will involve an interactive Web site that will ask patients questions about their asthma symptoms and medications and provide suggestions and feedback on the types of questions patients may want to ask their doctors. By asking questions about their asthma care and increasing communication with their doctor, patients may experience improved quality of asthma care and better asthma control. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the interactive Web site on asthma control and other measures of asthma management.
This 12-month study will enroll people with asthma. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the Asthma Feedback group or the Preventive Feedback (control) group. Both groups will log in to the study Web site at least once a month for 12 months and before all doctor visits. After logging in to the Web site, participants in the Asthma Feedback group will answer a series of questions about their asthma care. They will then receive information and feedback on the types of questions they should ask their asthma care provider during their next office visit. Participants in the Preventive Feedback group will answer questions and receive information and feedback regarding preventive services (e.g., cancer screening, cholesterol screening) that they should discuss with their primary care provider. At baseline and Months 6 and 12, all participants will complete online questionnaires regarding their asthma and overall health. Study researchers will review participants' medical records and insurance claims data at the end of the study.
Study Design
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator)
Conditions
Asthma
Intervention
Asthma Feedback
Location
Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey
Pennsylvania
United States
17033
Status
Active, not recruiting
Source
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00921401
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on January 16, 2012
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Asthma, Exercise-induced
Asthma attacks following a period of exercise. Usually the induced attack is short-lived and regresses spontaneously. The magnitude of postexertional airway obstruction is strongly influenced by the environment in which exercise is performed (i.e. inhalation of cold air during physical exertion markedly augments the severity of the airway obstruction; conversely, warm humid air blunts or abolishes it).
Feedback, Physiological
A mechanism of communication with a physiological system for homeostasis, adaptation, etc. Physiological feedback is mediated through extensive feedback mechanisms that use physiological cues as feedback loop signals to control other systems.
Anti-asthmatic Agents
Drugs that are used to treat asthma.
Orciprenaline
A beta-adrenergic agonist used in the treatment of asthma and bronchospasms.
Tretoquinol
An adrenergic beta-agonist used as a bronchodilator agent in asthma therapy.
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