Web Asthma Program Can Save Your Life

NEW YORK, NY; FARMINGTON, CT June 6, 2004 -- The Internet and phone may be useful in preventing asthma attacks in kids and adults, a recent government-funded study suggests.

Researchers at Pharmacon International, Inc. (Pharmacon), a health software company based in NYC, and ProHealth Physicians (PHP), a health plan located throughout Connecticut, looked at satisfaction of 48 asthmatic patients and their health care providers to Pharmacon's web- and phone- accessible ALERTS chronic disease management program during a 3-month time frame.

PHP made Pharmacon's ALERTS (Automated Live E-health Response Tracking System) available to 48 patients, who logged onto and/or phoned the program with their asthma peak-flow meter (lung volume) readings and symptoms 1 to 5 days a week, depending on the severity of their asthma. If the patients didn't enter their readings and symptoms when the program expected, ALERTS would e-mail or phone the patient with a gentle reminder. Roughly a quarter of the patients used the Internet exclusively to access ALERTS and 50% of patients had the program call them when they needed a reminder. Some patients who had previously never had their asthma controlled indicated that the program's prompts and reports made them feel in control and roughly half felt that they benefited from the program.

The program uses the GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) guidelines to tell patients if their peak-flow meter readings are in the "green", "yellow" or "red" zones—like the colors of a traffic light. If they're in the green zone, the program tells them they're doing great, the yellow zone tells them to use the quick-acting inhaler prescribed by their doctor and the red zone to call their health care provider, because they may be getting into trouble with their asthma. There are also reports available to the patients and their health care providers and a special report is available that alerts the providers when the patient might be headed for the emergency room.

"This helped my 14-year-old son a great deal," stated one patient's mother. "Now my son really understands that taking his [long-acting inhaler truly makes a difference and regular [short-acting inhaler usage improves his breathing. Seeing it on the graphs really impressed him. Now he takes his meds regularly."

This study and others were presented at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 9th Annual International Meeting held from May 16-19, 2004 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

For more information:
www.ispor.org
http://www.pharmacon.com/products.html
http://www.prohealthmd.com/




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