Title: Smartphone enabled home based self-management informatics platform for COPD in India

Abstract:

Background: COPD is one of the prominent causes of mortality, morbidity and disability among chronic respiratory diseases. Digital health interventions exist to provide various healthcare services to individual diagnosed with COPD. Training and support to the COPD patients on selfmanagement of their COPD status, improves health related QoL and can reduce unplanned hospital visits and admissions. Method: A prospective non-randomized study will be conducted to implement the selfmanagement informatics platform among 164 COPD patients (82 each in intervention and control group) in the selected hospital of India. A mixed methods will be conducted among identified COPD patients to assess the impact of COPD self-management informatics tool. Intervention: Identified COPD patients (GOLD-2 and 3) will be provided a smartphone application which includes the educational videos in local language on breathing techniques, airway clearance techniques, exercise training, fatigue management, counselling on physical activities, nutrition, smoking cessation, and spirometry. Control group: COPD patients assigned to control group will be treated with standard treatment regime for their COPD. Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using statistical software like SPSS 21 version. Continuous variable will be summarized using mean and standard deviation and frequencies will be reported for categorical data. Independent or student t-test will be used to analyze the mean difference between intervention and control groups. Chi square test will be used for comparison between groups. Logistic regression will be done where outcome variable is dichotomous. Conclusion: Smartphone enabled informatics platform may assist the COPD patients in the management of the exacerbations, reduced health care facility admissions, hospitalization days and health related quality of life.