Media Release
nu way 2 cntrl asthma
nu way 2 cntrl asthma
19 November 2007
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen are looking into whether mobile phone-based monitoring can improve symptoms and confidence of people with poorly controlled asthma.
The research, which is being funded by Asthma UK, aims to provide evidence for the use of information technology to address the long-recognised problem of poor asthma control.
The research will involve two groups of adults and teenagers – one group using traditional paper-based monitoring of their asthma symptoms, the other using their mobile phone to record symptoms, medicines and lung function. Instantaneous feedback to their phone will then provide a visual indication of asthma control and prompts about their asthma therapy.
Both groups will be under the care of their asthma nurse and will be treated according to the step-wise approach of the SIGN/British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines in order to gain control of their asthma.
The team will measure asthma control when the study starts, and at three and six months into the study to compare the improvement in asthma symptoms of the two groups. In addition the team will also assess how confident people feel in controlling their asthma.
Dr Victoria King, Asthma UK’s Research Development Manager, says:
‘An important factor contributing to poorly controlled asthma is the low expectation that some people have for the level of achievable asthma control. Most people with asthma should be aiming to have no symptoms nearly all the time. In a recent Asthma UK poll only 25% of people surveyed told us that the outcome of their asthma treatment meets international standards. Asthma UK is, therefore, pleased to be supporting this project that aims to engage and motivate people with poorly controlled asthma to take more control of their asthma symptoms and treatment, and to understand the goal of their asthma treatment plan.'
Dr Dermot Ryan says: ‘We know that many people with asthma are not as well as they could be. We know that the more knowledge a person has about their asthma and the more closely it is monitored the better controlled it can be.
‘The study is called the CYMPLA (Can Your Mobile Phone Help control your Asthma) study. We hope that by using new technology in an innovative way we can help the person with asthma help themselves, with confidence.’
The research, which is being funded by Asthma UK, aims to provide evidence for the use of information technology to address the long-recognised problem of poor asthma control.
The research will involve two groups of adults and teenagers – one group using traditional paper-based monitoring of their asthma symptoms, the other using their mobile phone to record symptoms, medicines and lung function. Instantaneous feedback to their phone will then provide a visual indication of asthma control and prompts about their asthma therapy.
Both groups will be under the care of their asthma nurse and will be treated according to the step-wise approach of the SIGN/British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines in order to gain control of their asthma.
The team will measure asthma control when the study starts, and at three and six months into the study to compare the improvement in asthma symptoms of the two groups. In addition the team will also assess how confident people feel in controlling their asthma.
Dr Victoria King, Asthma UK’s Research Development Manager, says:
‘An important factor contributing to poorly controlled asthma is the low expectation that some people have for the level of achievable asthma control. Most people with asthma should be aiming to have no symptoms nearly all the time. In a recent Asthma UK poll only 25% of people surveyed told us that the outcome of their asthma treatment meets international standards. Asthma UK is, therefore, pleased to be supporting this project that aims to engage and motivate people with poorly controlled asthma to take more control of their asthma symptoms and treatment, and to understand the goal of their asthma treatment plan.'
Dr Dermot Ryan says: ‘We know that many people with asthma are not as well as they could be. We know that the more knowledge a person has about their asthma and the more closely it is monitored the better controlled it can be.
‘The study is called the CYMPLA (Can Your Mobile Phone Help control your Asthma) study. We hope that by using new technology in an innovative way we can help the person with asthma help themselves, with confidence.’
Notes to editors
1. CYMPLA is pronounced Simpla, a pun on simpler
2. For further information, contact Asthma UK Scotland’s Communication Manager, Gordon Brown, on 0131 226 2544 or 07786 584 956. Email gbrown@asthma.org.uk
3. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. Asthma UK Scotland is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 390,000 people in Scotland whose lives are affected by asthma.
4. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
5. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.
2. For further information, contact Asthma UK Scotland’s Communication Manager, Gordon Brown, on 0131 226 2544 or 07786 584 956. Email gbrown@asthma.org.uk
3. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. Asthma UK Scotland is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 390,000 people in Scotland whose lives are affected by asthma.
4. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
5. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.
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