Trials Tracker

Remote monitoring & gaming technology for improving outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis

Remote monitoring and gaming technology for improving physiotherapy prescription, adherence and prediction of clinical outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis. Airway clearance, physical activity and exercise can mitigate the progression of CF lung disease, but routine physiotherapy treatments are burdensome and adherence is low. Traditional research has failed to produce credible evidence to guide practice, partly because ‘blinding’ isn’t possible and patient preference can confound results. Following our involvement with the ‘Big Life Fix’ television series https://youtu.be/d6A8R146JWU (BBC2,2016) we have worked with engineers and designers to develop electronically chipped airway clearance devices and wearable activity trackers to facilitate automatic data transmission to clinicians and researchers caring for children with CF. Industry partners (Microsoft) and UCL computer science experts are helping us develop computer games driven by breathing through an airway clearance device (to enhance treatment enjoyment and adherence). The project will use this technology for passive remote capture and transmission of daily longitudinal data during airway clearance, physical activity and exercise to assess impact on clinical outcomes. Innovative big data analysis methods will be used to find out whether: Children with CF should do regular ACTs or exercise, and what the minimum effective dose is physical activity levels have an impact on clinical outcomes airway clearance or exercise is more effective in different children (and how to choose) some airway clearance techniques are better than others airway clearance gaming helps children do treatments more regularly, and whether better adherence improves health alternative to traditional research methods and help identify sensitive composite outcome measures for children with mild signs and symptoms.