Short-term Telehealth Follow up After Hospital Discharge for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the introduction of a short-term telemonitoring program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients discharged from the hospital after disease exacerbation produces benefits in terms of a reduction in hospital readmissions and health related quality of life. In addition the trials evaluate the economical and organisational impact of the services and examine their acceptability by patients and health professionals.

Conditions

• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Telemonitoring

Within 24 hours after patient's discharge, the telemedicine equipment is installed at the patient's home and patients are trained in the use of the equipment. Patients are followed by a dedicated telehealth centre. Patients at home are asked to fill out each morning the CAT questionnaire and to record extra use of COPD relief medications. Patients in stable conditions perform telespirometry and teleoximetry at 4 and 12 weeks. When a clinical worsening is detected (increase in CAT score by 5 points or higher on two consecutive days) the patient is contacted and asked to perform ad hoc telespirometry and teleoximetry and to send the data to the telehealth centre.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ministry for Health and Social Solidarity, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• Municipality of Trikala, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• e-Trikala S.A.

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Cities Net SA

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Institute of Biomedical Research & Technology, Larissa, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• Institute of Communications and Computer Systems, Athens, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Thessaly

  collaborator OTHER

• Regional Health Authority of Sterea & Thessaly

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, MD, PhD · Pulmonary Department - University Hospital of Larisa

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-03-31

Primary Completion

2013-11-30

Completion

2014-01-31

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations