Cited by 119Telemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationAsthma and respiratory diseasesMobile Health and mHealth Applications

Telehealthcare for asthma

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McLean, Susannah, Chandler, David, Nurmatov, Ulugbek, Liu, Joseph LY, Pagliari, Claudia, Car, Josip, Sheikh, Aziz·2010·Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Healthcare systems internationally need to consider new models of care to cater for the increasing numbers of people with asthma. Telehealthcare interventions are increasingly being seen by policymakers as a potential means of delivering asthma care. We defined telehealthcare as being healthcare delivered from a distance, facilitated electronically and involving the exchange of information through the personalised interaction between a healthcare professional using their skills and judgement and the patient providing information. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of telehealthcare interventions in people with asthma. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched in the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and PsycINFO; this was supplemented by handsearching of respiratory journals. We also searched registers of ongoing and unpublished trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected completed randomised controlled trials of telehealthcare initiatives aiming to improve asthma care. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently appraised studies for inclusion and extracted data and performed meta-analyses. We analysed dichotomous variables to produce an odds ratio (OR) and continuous variables to produce a mean difference. MAIN RESULTS: We included 21 trials in this review. The 21 included studies investigated a range of technologies aiming to support the provision of care from a distance. These included: telephone (n = 9); video-conferencing (n = 2); Internet (n = 2); other networked communications (n = 6); text Short Messaging Service (n = 1); or a combination of text and Internet (n = 1). Meta-analysis showed that these interventions did not result in clinically important improvements in asthma quality of life (minimum clinically important difference = 0.5): mean difference in Juniper's Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) 0.08 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.16). Telehealthcare for asthma resulted in a non-significant increase in the odds of emergency department visits over a 12-month period: OR 1.16 (95% CI 0.52 to 2.58). There was, however, a significant reduction in hospitalisations over a 12-month period: OR 0.21 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.61), the effect being most marked in people with more severe asthma managed predominantly in secondary care settings. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Telehealthcare interventions are unlikely to result in clinically relevant improvements in health outcomes in those with relatively mild asthma, but they may have a role in those with more severe disease who are at high risk of hospital admission. Further trials evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a range of telehealthcare interventions are needed.

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  1. Le 2007 {published data only} Le TT Holbrook JT, et al.Effectiveness and acceptability of computer-based asthma education. American Thoracic Society International Conference May 18-23:A93.
  2. van den Berg 2002 {published data only} van den Berg NJ, ten Have WH. Is the availability of a 24 hour asthma-telephone useful in the implementation of asthma treatment guidelines for children aged 6-16 years among general practitioners?. Conference Abstract European Respiratory Society Annual Congress 2002: P2051.

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Authors
McLean, S., Chandler, D., Nurmatov, U., Liu, J. L., Pagliari, C., Car, J., & Sheikh, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Dundee (GB)
  • University of Ljubljana (SI)
Venue
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-10-06
Volume
2012
Issue
8
Pages
CD007717-CD007717
ISSN
  • 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-1858
OpenAlex
W2103999787
Cited by
119
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 12
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Keywords
telemedicine, asthma, remote patient monitoring, telephone care, videoconferencing, asthma quality of life, hospitalization, emergency department visits, severe asthma, secondary care
MeSH terms
Asthma, Humans, Telephone, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Telemedicine, Internet

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