In this case study, we discuss surveying innovation impact on asthma control in young children.
Asthma is the most common lung condition in children in the UK, affecting around 1 in 11 children. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can usually be controlled through the use of medications which are normally in the form of an inhaled substance.
For good asthma control, regular reviews with a healthcare practitioner specialising in asthma are recommended. It is also essential that children learn good inhaler technique and take their medication as directed by their healthcare practitioner (HCP).
Clin-e-Cal Limited has developed an app, RAFI TONE, to help young children with asthma to accept a spacer with face mask and to help children and their carers to understand good inhaler technique. The app works with the Clement Clarke Able Spacer device which features a whistle mask. The app recognises the tone of the whistle mask; driving a series of simple games aimed at young children. Only good technique will make the game work.
The challenge
To develop an innovation survey in the Salford area to determine if use of the RAFI TONE / Able spacer innovation has a positive impact on patient care in terms of improving asthma control, aiding communication of good inhaler technique with parents and children and reducing demand for additional healthcare intervention such as visits to A&E.
Customer Testimonial
“Working with Accelerate was made exceptionally easy. Philippa and Katherine were quick to pick up the brief and provided valuable input into the project design at all stages to enable us to derive the best value from the work. We found Accelerate to be thoroughly professional and flexible in the way that they work and interact and I would highly recommend their services to anyone seeking input for a bespoke market assessment project.” Lizzie Crawford, Managing Director, Clin-e-cal Limited.
The approach
Accelerate Associates was contracted to develop questionnaires for parents and carers of young children with asthma and healthcare practitioners involved in the management of asthma. The questionnaires were disseminated by a specialist Respiratory consultancy. Accelerate subsequently collated all the innovation survey data and produced the project report.
Results
Surveying innovation impact of Rafi-Tone required data collection from more than 100 patients. Patients used the RAFI TONE / Able spacer innovation with their parents completing baseline and follow up surveys. A total of 13 general practices across the Salford CCG area participated in the survey and feedback was collated from the HCPs responsible for the care of the survey patients.
The feedback obtained enabled a wealth of positive information to be reported back to the CCG including patients’ feelings about taking their inhaler, carers’ confidence in delivering inhaler medication, and the improved communication between nurses and patients about effective inhaler technique.
Philippa Bevan has over 25 years commercial and public sector experience in marketing, market research and product management spanning the education, laboratory, medical device, technology transfer and packaging industries. Philippa has a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology and Virology and is a Chartered Marketer.
