INCA SUn: A prospective randomised multicentre study to optimise the management of symptomatically uncontrolled asthma.

Inhalers are used in the treatment of patients with severe asthma. About 10% of people with asthma fail to achieve control of their asthma symptoms with inhalers. These patients with severe asthma, are often treated with extra medications or have severe attacks. One reason why these patients may not achieve control of their asthma is that they do not take their inhalers regularly enough or they do not take their inhalers with the correct technique. Either way many get disillusioned failing to see an improvement in asthma control, not realising that this is due to insufficient or inadequate use of their inhaler. The applicants have developed a method to see if they can achieve better outcomes by having patients participate in their own treatment. The basis of the intervention is a small device which is attached to an individuals inhaler. This identifies when and how the individual has used their inhaler by collecting this information the indivdual can see how well they have used their inhaler and see the relationship between their adherence and the changes in their clinical symptoms.
In this study we will compare the outcomes of this intervention with standard care.

Award Date

19 June 2014

Award Value

€798,681

Principal Investigator

Professor Richard Costello

Host Institution

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Scheme

Health Research Awards - Definitive Intervention