Smartphone program to improve quality of life for people with COPD
A Proactive Patient-centered Interactive Smartphone-based Self-Management Support Program for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial With Mixed-method Evaluation
This study will test a smartphone-based self-management program (3S-C) to see if it helps people with COPD feel better, manage their condition, and use less healthcare.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 130 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hong Kong Metropolitan University Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Hong Kong, Hong Kong and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06888557 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This assessor-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial will enroll 130 adults with COPD and follow them for 12 months. Participants randomized to the 3S-C program will receive two 30-minute motivational sessions, staged WhatsApp/WeChat messages, personalized chat- and phone-based support including a hotline, an e-platform for self-monitoring, and a mutual support group session. The control group will receive general hygiene education covering personal, food, environmental, and sleep hygiene. The primary outcome is change in quality of life, with secondary outcomes including health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, symptom measures, and healthcare utilization such as hospital visits.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Chinese-speaking adults aged 40 or older with confirmed COPD who had an acute exacerbation in the past 6 months, are physically and cognitively able to participate, and own a smartphone with WhatsApp or WeChat.
Not a fit: Patients with other significant lung diseases, New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure, serious active infection, inability to walk, unstable psychiatric illness, or those who cannot use a smartphone or read Chinese are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve patients' quality of life, boost self-management skills, reduce symptoms, and lower hospital or clinic visits.
How similar studies have performed: Previous digital and self-management interventions for COPD have produced promising but mixed results, with some trials showing improved quality of life and reduced healthcare use while others show limited effects.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 40 years and above * Confirmed diagnosis of COPD * Had COPD acute exacerbation in prior 6 months that required hospitalization, medical intervention or seek medical consultation * Mentally, cognitively and physically fit to join as determined by the doctor in-charge and responsible clinical investigators * Can speak and read Chinese * Completion of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Has a smartphone with WhatsApp or WeChat Exclusion Criteria: * Have other significant lung disease or Class 4 heart failure \[defined by the New York Heart Association classification\] * Serious active infection * Inability to walk * Unstable psychiatric illness
Where this trial is running
Hong Kong, Hong Kong and 2 other locations
- Queen Mary Hospital — Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Queen Elizbeth Hospital — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
- United Christian Hospital — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Agnes YK Lai, PhD — Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Study coordinator: Agnes YK Lai, PhD
- Email: ayklai@hkmu.edu.hk
- Phone: (852)3970-2917
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.