STudy of Asthma Adherence Reminders

Can Electronic Adherence Monitors With Feedback and Daily Reminders Improve Adherence and Health Outcomes in Children With Asthma?

To determine whether electronic adherence monitoring with feedback and reminder alarms can improve adherence and health outcomes in childhood asthma.

This study will investigate whether adding an electronic adherence monitor to inhaled steroids, and feeding this information back to patients and families can improve adherence and outcomes in childhood asthma. The devices will also sound twice daily reminder alarms to act as direct medication prompts. This intervention will be compared to a control group in which adherence is monitored, but with no feedback or alarms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Doctor diagnosed asthma.

• On at least BTS stage 2, which means they will be on regular inhaled steroids.

• No change in regular asthma treatment in the last 1 month (on regular inhaled steroids, no change in steroid dose for

  1 month, no change in add on therapy in the last month).

• ACQ (Asthma Control Questionnaire) score more than or equal to 1.5.

• Can speak and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• BTS stage 5 asthma (complex issues, too unstable).
• Recent changes to asthma treatment within the last month. (see above)
• ACQ (Asthma Control Questionnaire) score < 1.5.
• Another chronic health condition (eg diabetes, congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis).
• Can't speak or understand English.