Redesigning Ambulatory Care Delivery to Enhance Asthma Control in Children

January 24, 2020 updated by: Flory Nkoy, University of Utah

The investigators have developed a tool to facilitate asthma self-management in children, the electronic-AsthmaTracker (e-AT). The e-AT changes ambulatory asthma care delivery to a new model that is continuous and proactive, focusing on prevention and control, rather than reactive and focusing on management of asthma attacks. The e-AT 1) engages parents in weekly monitoring of their child's chronic asthma symptoms, 2) guides parents to recognize warning signs of asthma attacks in order to prompt appropriate interventions and timely visits to Primary Care Providers, and 3) provides Primary Care Providers with real-time, objective patient data to assess the effectiveness of asthma therapy and prompt adjustments. In a preliminary study of the paper-based version of the AT, frequent users had significantly fewer emergency department (ED) and hospital visits. Parent comments during the e-AT pilot testing revealed that the tool was useful in helping them manage their child's asthma and were interested in assessing the tool's effectiveness and in identifying and addressing barriers to their sustained use of the e-AT.

Improving asthma control in children will be facilitated by broad e-AT dissemination, and by identifying and addressing critical factors that contribute to parent sustained participation in self-management. The investigators propose to assess the effectiveness of the new ambulatory care model supported by the e-AT and conduct an e-AT process evaluation, assessing barriers and facilitators of sustained parent use. The investigators will engage parents throughout this study to identify and address themes that matter to them. The target population is children with persistent asthma, ages 2-17 years. The investigators have engaged 10 parents since conception of this project, from the planning to design and validation of the paper-AT, and the design and pilot testing of the e-AT. Input from parents was received through 3 iterative focus groups (one for the paper-AT and 2 for the e-AT) and facilitated discussions to inform the development of this proposal including research objectives and outcome measures. In addition, the investigators have recruited other key stakeholders for whom the results of the research will be relevant.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Through the following specific aims, the investigators will:

Aim 1: Assess the effectiveness of the new ambulatory care model, by comparing outcomes at the 1.a. child (child's quality of life (QOL), asthma control, missed school days), 1.b.parent (satisfaction, parent missed work days) and 1.c. clinic (ED/hospital visits) levels, between clinics randomly assigned to either the standard e-AT intervention vs. intensive e-AT intervention. 1.d. Use non randomized comparisons to determine the effectiveness of the e-AT relative to a control group (usual care) in which the e-AT was not used

Aim 2: Assess the association of QOL, asthma control, and ED/hospital admissions with the prior frequency of e-AT use and assess if the association differs between parent subgroups (high vs. low literacy, Medicaid vs. private insurance, and frequent vs. less frequent e-AT users).

Aim 3: Determine the association of demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, and technology factors with sustained parent participation in asthma self-management.

The outcome measures are:

Primary Outcome:

  1. Child quality of life (QOL)

    Secondary Outcomes:

  2. Child asthma control
  3. Child interrupted/missed school days
  4. Child use of oral steroids (surrogate measure of an asthma exacerbation)
  5. Parent satisfaction with care
  6. Parent interruption/missed work days
  7. Clinics: ED/Hospital admissions

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

926

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84113
        • University of Utah

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

2 years to 17 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Facility Eligibility

Clinics are eligible for participation if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Primary care clinics with the clinical leadership to adopt use of e-AT for asthma management.
  2. Have patients between 2 and 17 years of age with persistent asthma.
  3. Ability of the facility to accommodate patient enrollment and training about use of e-AT.

Patient Inclusion Criteria

  1. Children ages 2 through 17 years and their parents (main parents or caregiver)
  2. English speakers
  3. Children who received or are receiving asthma treatment (at participating clinics).
  4. Parents have Internet access
  5. Children with persistent asthma.

Patient Exclusion Criteria:

As this is a pragmatic trial assessing evidence of the e-AT in a real clinical environment, no patients will be excluded as long as they meet inclusion criteria. However, during the time of analysis, we will conduct a sub-analysis, comparing the effectiveness of the new care model among patients with or without co-morbid conditions that may affect measured asthma outcomes. These include patients with a history or increased risk of pulmonary disease (cystic fibrosis, bronco-pulmonary dysplasia, aspiration pneumonia, severe Cerebral Palsy (CP) with aspiration risk, technology dependency (gastrostomy tube, tracheostomy), history of congenital heart disease requiring surgical correction or with complicating congestive heart failure requiring medical management, immunodeficiency (including patients on immunosuppressants), and malignancies.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Standard e-AT Intervention
Patients in Standard e-AT or standard intervention group will receive a daily (if a participant forgets to complete his/her weekly assessment) email and text reminders with a link to the e-AT website to help patient/parent participants to comply with their weekly assessment of patient's level of asthma control. Note: patient/parent participants are required to complete their asthma control assessment 1x/week. The e-AT is now set up to send a weekly reminder to participants with a link to the website. If a participant does not complete an assessment within a week of the last assessment, the reminder will be sent daily until the patient/parent complies and the system resets to weekly.
Patients will be self-monitoring their symptoms weekly using the e-AT, either the Standard or Intensive versions of the e-AT, completing the Asthma Control Test. As patients complete their assessments each week, the clinics will be able to see how each patient is doing, and follow-up when a patient is showing high symptoms for that week, potentially avoiding Emergency Room visit, and/or hospitalization.
Experimental: Intensive e-AT Intervention
Participants in the intensive e-AT or adherence support intervention will receive everything as those in Standard Intervention. In addition, they will see a progress bar display, which adds 25 points each time they complete an assessment. When this bar reaches 100 points, a pop-up message with fireworks will appear to congratulate them about the milestone. The progress bar resets to zero after it reaches 100 points. Participants will also see a leader board allowing them to compare themselves with the 5 best users to increase compliance.
Patients will be self-monitoring their symptoms weekly using the e-AT, either the Standard or Intensive versions of the e-AT, completing the Asthma Control Test. As patients complete their assessments each week, the clinics will be able to see how each patient is doing, and follow-up when a patient is showing high symptoms for that week, potentially avoiding Emergency Room visit, and/or hospitalization.
No Intervention: Usual Care (Non-Randomized Cohort)
Both arms (Intensive and standard e-AT interventions) will be compared to each other as well as to a non-randomized cohort who did not receive the e-AT interventions. These non-randomized cohort will be matched 2:1 to each randomized individuals.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Quality of Life (QOL), Compared Mean QOL Change From Baseline at Each Follow-up Assessment Between the Clinics Assigned to the Intensive and Standard e-AT Interventions
Time Frame: Quality of Life assessed at baseline, then compared to 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after intervention.

Patient QOL and missed school days was collected longitudinally through surveys of the study population defined above. The QOL questionnaire included the Integrated Therapeutics Group Child Asthma Short Form (ITG-CASF) and was used at baseline (at first assessment), 3, 6, and 12 months in the study.

Items within QOL scales are summed and linearly transformed from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better functioning.

Quality of Life assessed at baseline, then compared to 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after intervention.
Patient Quality of Life (QOL), Overall Longitudinal Change (From Baseline) Within All Subjects (Who Received the e-AT Intervention)
Time Frame: Average Baseline QOL was compared to QOL scores at 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up QOL
Patient QOL and missed school days was collected longitudinally through surveys of the study population defined above. The QOL questionnaire included the Integrated Therapeutics Group Child Asthma Short Form - ITG-CASF and was used at baseline (at first assessment), 3, 6, and 12 months in the study. Items within scales are summed and linearly transformed from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better functioning.
Average Baseline QOL was compared to QOL scores at 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up QOL

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Parent Satisfaction With Care, Standard vs Intensive
Time Frame: Changes in satisfaction was compared between 12 month follow-up and baseline satisfaction across Standard and Intensive interventions

Parent satisfaction data was collected at baseline and at 12 months in the study.

The scale ranges from 1-5, with 1 being "Very Dissatisfied" and 5 "Very Satisfied".

Changes in satisfaction was compared between 12 month follow-up and baseline satisfaction across Standard and Intensive interventions
Child Interrupted/Missed School Days, Standard vs Intensive
Time Frame: Interrupted/missed school days were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 month follow-ups

Number of child interrupted/missed school days were collected longitudinally at the same time as collecting the QOL scores: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months in the study.

Number of child interrupted/missed school days during the 3 months prior to baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up surveys were counted.

Interrupted/missed school days were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 month follow-ups
Parent Interrupted/Missed Work Days, Standard vs Intensive
Time Frame: Interrupted/missed work days were measured baseline 3, 6, and 12 months

Number of parent interrupted/missed work days were collected longitudinally at the same time as collecting the QOL scores: baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months in the study.

Number of parent interrupted/missed work days during the 3 months prior to baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up surveys were counted.

Interrupted/missed work days were measured baseline 3, 6, and 12 months
Asthma Control Change, Standard vs Intensive
Time Frame: Average baseline ACT scores compared to average ACT scores at quarter 1, 2, 3 and 4, and between Standard vs. Intensive
Asthma control information was collected weekly through the e-AT for 1 year. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), which had a score ranging from 5 to 25, with 5 being poor control and 25 being optimal control. The analysis compared the mean change in scores from baseline to quarters 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Average baseline ACT scores compared to average ACT scores at quarter 1, 2, 3 and 4, and between Standard vs. Intensive
Emergency Department (ED)/Hospitalization, Standard vs Intensive
Time Frame: Change in 1 year ED/hospital admission between 12-month prior and 12 month post e-AT use

ED and hospital admissions were evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and ED visits and hospital encounters.

We evaluated number ED and hospital admissions 12 months prior to intervention and 12 months post intervention

Change in 1 year ED/hospital admission between 12-month prior and 12 month post e-AT use
Parent Satisfaction With Care, Overall (Change Overtime From Baseline to 12 Months)
Time Frame: Satisfaction at 1 year following e-AT use was compared to baseline satisfaction scores

Parent satisfaction data was collected using a modified version of patient satisfaction survey developed and validated by Varni et al. at baseline and at 12 months in the study.

The scale ranged from 1-5, with 1=Very Dissatisfied and 5=Very Satisfied.

Satisfaction at 1 year following e-AT use was compared to baseline satisfaction scores
Child Asthma Control Overall (Comparing Change of Asthma Control From Baseline to Quarter 1, Quarter 2, Quarter 3 and Quarter 4)
Time Frame: baseline ACT scores were compared to quarters 1, 2, 3, 4.

Asthma control information was collected through the e-AT, comparing change of asthma control from baseline to quarter 1, quarter 2, quarter 3 and quarter 4.

Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), which scale ranged from 5-25, with 5=poorly controlled and 25=well controlled.

Each patient submitted an ACT score weekly for 12 months.

baseline ACT scores were compared to quarters 1, 2, 3, 4.
Child Interrupted/Missed School Days, Overall (Longitudinal Changes Overtime)
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of child interrupted/missed school days were collected longitudinally (information includes mean at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months in the study).
1 year
Parent Interrupted/Missed Work Days, Overall (Longitudinal Change Overtime)
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of parent interrupted/missed work days were collected longitudinally at the same time as collecting the QOL scores: Information includes mean at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months in the study.
1 year
ED/Hospital Admissions, e-AT Overall (Pre vs. Post e-AT Use Within Subjects That Received the e-AT Intervention)
Time Frame: 1 year
ED/hospital re-admission data were compared between prior and post 12 month period (for both intensive and standard interventions overall) when e-AT was administered.
1 year
Use of Oral Steroid, Overall
Time Frame: 1 year
Use of oral steroid was evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and oral steroids prescribed. Comparison was made between prior and post e-AT (both interventions) overall.
1 year
ED/Hospital Admission, Early vs. Late Patients
Time Frame: 1 year following e-AT use for early and late starting patients
ED and hospital admission was evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and ED visits and hospital encounters. Analyses (at the patient level) comparing the rates of ED/hospital admissions between a 1 year period following initiation of the e-AT for those in both standard and intensive e-AT groups who were enrolled early during the study period (patients with enrollment dates between January 2014 and December 2014) to rates of ED/hospital admissions for patients who started the e-AT later (patients with enrollment dates between January 2015 and December 2015), during a 1-year period prior to the late patient starting the e-AT.
1 year following e-AT use for early and late starting patients
Oral Steroid Use, Early vs. Late Patients
Time Frame: 1 year

Oral steroid use data was collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and clinics prescribing oral steroid.

Oral steroid use was evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and oral steroids prescribed. Analyses (at the patient level) comparing the rates oral steroid use between a 1 year period following initiation of the e-AT for those in both standard and intensive e-AT groups who were enrolled early during the study period (patients with enrollment dates between January 2014 and December 2014) to rates of oral steroid use for patients who started the e-AT later (patients with enrollment dates between January 2015 and December 2015), during a 1-year period prior to the late patient starting the e-AT.

1 year
ED/Hospital Admission, Early vs Late Starting Clinics (During the 3 Months When Late Starting Clinics Have Not Used the e-AT)
Time Frame: 3-month period prior to the late clinics starting the e-AT
ED and hospital admission evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and ED visits and hospital encounters. Statistical analysis was not conducted since the numbers of ED/Hospital admissions was very small (2 and 0) in both group (during the 3 months study window). Here we used intent-to-treat analysis and included the overall 325 (rather than 318 used in analysis of other outcomes) participants.
3-month period prior to the late clinics starting the e-AT
Oral Steroid Use, Early vs Late Starting Clinics (During the 3 Months When Late Starting Clinics Have Not Started the e-AT)
Time Frame: 3 month period prior to the late clinics starting the e-AT
Use of oral steroid was evaluated using data collected through Intermountain Healthcare claims data and oral steroids prescribed. Statistical analysis was not conducted since the numbers of ED/Hospital admissions was very small (2 and 0) in both group (during the 3 months study window). Here we used intent-to-treat analysis and included the overall 325 (rather than 318 used in analysis of other outcomes) participants
3 month period prior to the late clinics starting the e-AT
ED/Hospital Admissions, e-AT vs Usual Care
Time Frame: 1 year
Non randomized comparison of ED and hospital admissions between e-AT interventions (both intensive and standard) compared usual care (matched control patients drawn from non-participating clinics) in the prior vs. post e-AT intervention time periods.
1 year
Oral Steroid Use, e-AT vs Usual Care
Time Frame: 1 year
Non randomized comparison of use of oral steroid between e-AT interventions (both intensive and standard) compared usual care (matched control patients drawn from non-participating clinics) in the prior vs. post e-AT intervention time periods.
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Flory Nkoy, MD, MS, MPH, University of Utah

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 25, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 31, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

April 6, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 5, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2020

Last Verified

January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

We can only share completely de-identified data. Request can be sent to my email: flory.nkoy@hsc.utah.edu

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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