Evaluating the Use of an App in Pleural Disease: Algorithm-supported Clinical Decision Making Versus Usual Care

Summary

Pleural disease is a group of conditions that affect the membrane around the lungs. These conditions-fluid around the lungs, infections, cancer, and collapsed lung-are common and can cause serious illness. They often lead to long hospital stays, emergency admissions, and reduced quality of life. In Denmark and worldwide, the number of patients with pleural disease is rising, and the treatment is costly for the healthcare system.

How long patients stay in the hospital depends on the type of pleural disease. Some stay less than a week, while others remain for several weeks, especially if complications occur. Research shows that early diagnosis and treatment based on clinical guidelines can shorten hospital stays and improve outcomes.

In the UK, many hospitals have created dedicated pleural clinics run by specialists. These clinics help ensure that patients receive fast, consistent, and evidence based care, and they have reduced the number of days patients spend in hospital. In Denmark, however, such clinics are rare. A recent national survey showed that many Danish hospitals do not follow current pleural disease guidelines, and many lack clear pathways for diagnosing and treating these patients. As a result, patients may receive suboptimal care.

This project aims to close that gap. The goal is to develop an easy to use, guideline based decision tool that supports doctors in emergency, medical, and surgical departments. The tool will guide clinicians from the moment a patient arrives until discharge, helping them choose the right tests and treatments at the right time. By making expert knowledge accessible to non specialists, the project hopes to improve patient care, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stays.

Ultimately, the project seeks to ensure that all patients with pleural disease in Denmark receive fast, safe, and evidence based treatment-no matter where they are admitted.

Conditions

• Pleural Diseases
• Pneumothorax Spontaneous Primary
• Pneumothorax Spontaneous Secondary
• Pleural Effusion
• Pleural Infection

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Clinical decision-making support tool

Care for patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, pleural effusion or pleural infection when supported by a clinical decision-support tool, in the form of a smartphone app.

OTHER

Usual care

Care supported by a clinical decision-support tool delivered via a smartphone app.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Zealand University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Casper Jensen, MD · Lungemedicinsk Forskningsenhed (PLUZ), Institut for Regional Sundhedsforskning, Syddansk Universitet

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-01

Primary Completion

2026-10-15

Completion

2026-10-15

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations