Severe Asthma, Telemedicine, and Self-Administered Therapy: Listening First to the Patient

Abstract

Severe asthma patients are at an increased risk of major complications and they need to be monitored regularly. The COVID-19 pandemic has notably impacted on the health care resources. The telemedicine approach applied to the follow-up of asthmatic patients has been proven to be effective in monitoring their disease and their adherence to the therapy. The aim of our study was to investigate the satisfaction of severe asthma patients before the activation of a telemedicine management, as well as their current experience with self-administration of injection therapy. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed and sent by e-mail to 180 severe asthma patients. Most of subjects, 82%, were confident with the idea of doing self-measurements and self-managing their disease. Further, 77% of subjects favoured to carry out virtual visits and telemedicine. Regarding the home treatment, 93% of patients considered the self-injection therapy easy, 94% of subjects felt safe, and 93% were not worried while self-administering. Only mild adverse events were reported in 22% of patients after self-administration. Our results showed an agreement between what is considered necessary and practicable by healthcare personnel and what is perceived by the severe asthma patients in terms of treatment and monitoring of the disease with Telehealth. Biologics have a safety profile and can be easily self-administred at home.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with immunodeficiencies: impact of infusion method on patient-reported outcomes

“…Despite prescribers playing a major role in IgRT modality choice, the finding that the SCIg cohort was associated with a better perceived effectiveness compared with the IVIg cohort may be, in part, attributed to the SCIg cohort (especially the SCIg naïve cohort) feeling more empowered. Self-infusing SCIg users play a more active role in their treatment compared with their IVIg counterparts, giving them the feeling of empowerment [41][42][43][44]. Indeed, patient preference assessments highlight the importance of continually offering patients information and a choice of IgRT infusion options [30][31][32].…”

Covid‐19 pandemic and asthma: What did we learn?

“…59 Severe asthma patients, including those on biologics, appear to be satisfied with carrying out home selfmeasurements, self-management, virtual consultations and self-administration of injectable treatments. 60 Telemedicine can even successfully improve patients' inhaler technique and adherence, through video-directly observed therapy. 61 Clearly, the time has come for an updated Cochrane review of telemedicine in asthma.…”

“…Interestingly, a 2012 Cochrane review of 21 trials using telemedicine in asthma care found it did not impact on quality of life for those with mild asthma but prevented exacerbations and hospital admissions for those with severe asthma 59 . Severe asthma patients, including those on biologics, appear to be satisfied with carrying out home self‐measurements, self‐management, virtual consultations and self‐administration of injectable treatments 60 . Telemedicine can even successfully improve patients' inhaler technique and adherence, through video‐directly observed therapy 61 .…”

Coronavirus disease 2019 and severe asthma

“…Moreover, strategies employing domiciliary administration of the drug by a nurse, if the patient cannot self-administer the medication were applied [70]. An Italian study about telehealth during COVID-19 showed a good adherence to biological therapies and a good satisfaction in telemonitoring in period in which face to face visits were discouraged [71].…”