DIGITAL TEAM RCT Overview
DIGITAL TEAM: A DIGITAL solution To Empower Asthma and comorbidity self-Management.
DIGITAL TEAM RCT: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a centralised, national digital asthma care program compared to enhanced usual care: A randomised controlled tele-trial.
Why is this research being done?
Asthma is a respiratory disease and is one of the most common chronic medical conditions. Affecting 339 million people worldwide including 1 in 9 Australians, asthma imposes a major burden on the healthcare system, on patients, and within society. In 2020-2021, 24,831 Australians were hospitalised for asthma. 467 Australians died from asthma in 2022 – the highest number in the last 10 years.
The net economic burden of asthma was estimated at $ AU1.2 billion in Australia in 2015. Asthma is a National Health Priority Area in Australia, which recognises the high burden and the potential to achieve significant health and economic benefits to Australians, if effectively controlled.
We propose a new approach to asthma management, addressing the multidimensional problems associated with asthma care using a national, centralised, digital asthma care program – The DIGITAL TEAM program. This program will use multiple digital health technologies to deliver asthma education and care to clients, facilitated by a trained asthma expert (Asthma Australia Asthma Educators). This world-first tele-trial will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this national, centralised, digital asthma care program compared to enhanced usual care in improving asthma burden in Australia.
Who can participate?
Researchers are looking for adults (at least 18 years of age) with a diagnosis of asthma who have access to a smart phone.
This study may not be suitable for people who currently undertake asthma education calls with Asthma Australia Asthma Educators or anyone who is already involved in a clinical trial.
Recruitment
The DIGITAL TEAM RCT is aiming to recruit 1200 adults with asthma from across Australia over 12 months. The recruitment period is projected to be from February 2025-February 2026.
Recruitment Streams
DIGITAL TEAM RCT participants will be recruited via three main recruitment methods/streams:
- Self-addressed expressed of interest: Print media, digital media, mainstream media or other media advertisements will be delivered to the public. These advertisements will contain the study email, phone number, and QR code/link to the expression of interest survey.
- Referral: Healthcare providers that have identified potential participants can refer participants to study advertisements and information material (participant information sheet and brochures). Potential participants can then provide their expression of interest via telephone, email, or survey.
- Research databases: potential participants from the HMRI or department of respiratory and sleep medicine outpatient database will be identified and contacted via email or telephone by study researchers to see if they would be interested in participating in the study. Potential participants on these databases have consented to be contacted to see if they may be interested in participating in research.
Expression of interest can be expressed to the DIGITAL TEAM researchers via:
- Email: digitalteam@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone: 02 4042 0111
- Expression of interest survey: