Researchers from Monash University have developed a new telehealth program that targets pregnant women, a group of asthama patients especially at risk. Eventually the technology could also be used more widely by others who suffer asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Called 'management of asthma with supportive telehealth of respiratory function in pregnancy' or MASTERY, the telehealth program monitors a patients asthma regularly, effectively and in partnership with their primary healthcare providers.
The technology involves a handheld respiratory device used to measure lung capacity and lung function. The device supports the mobile application Breathe-easy to record asthma symptoms and medication usage. This data is then automatically transmitted to a central server where researchers, participants and their health care professionals can securely access their data.
According to the study, published in Respirology, the validity of lung function data obtained by the app is comparable to that of the data obtained by physicians. Daily remote monitoring of the lung function makes it easier to address any worsening symptoms.
Breathe-easy provides users with both daily and weekly feedback regarding their asthma status - if their asthma control status is poor, the application urges users to make changes in their treatment and/or contact their health care professional.
According to Dr Johnson George from the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University, women who achieve effective asthma control during pregnancy have a greater chance of a healthy outcome for them and their baby. And asthma control is more effective if the patient plays an active role in its management.