Background
The WMAHSN would like to support improved care and outcomes for asthma patients.
Asthma accounts for 60,000 hospital admissions and 200,000 bed days per year in the UK1. 90% of NHS spend on asthma goes on medicines2. However, when these medicines are not used correctly, they can contribute to increased risk of hospital admissions and asthma attacks. This can have a negative impact on patient outcomes and wellbeing. Healthcare professionals should check inhaler technique at every opportunity and encourage shared decision making with patients. In some cases digital inhaler innovations may be appropriate to support with this.
Challenge Statement
This challenge is looking to inform a potential local project, involving healthcare providers in the West Midlands.
WMAHSN is seeking digital or smart inhaler solutions that monitor inhaler adherence and improve respiratory outcomes for asthma patients. We are seeking solutions that can monitor inhaler adherence as a minimum and can demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Monitor and improve inhaler adherence
- Monitor and improve inhaler technique
- Reduce asthma exacerbations
- Promote shared decision making between patient and clinician
- Monitor Asthma Control Test scores
- Monitor Peak Expiratory Flow
- Monitor weather and environmental conditions affecting asthma
- Measure the number of actuations
This challenge will remain open until 14th July 2023.
References:
1 = NICE (2022), What is the prevalence of asthma? https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma/background-information/prevalence/#:~:text=Risk%20factors,What%20is%20the%20prevalence%20of%20asthma%3F,have%20been%20diagnosed%20with%20asthma.
2 = NHS England, RightCare Asthma Toolkit (September 2022), https://www.england.nhs.uk/rightcare/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2022/09/RightCare-Asthma-Toolkit.pdf