Support for the medical profession - Asthma Community ...

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Support for the medical profession

13 Replies

If someone come up with an idea that was able to work with all smart devices that when they took their pump or pumps to record the usage and allowed the user to give a doctor a printout or even access to it so they can see how best to support that user.

All maybe a way of doing a peak flow test also.

What do you think to that idea?

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13 Replies
EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador

There are smart PFM available to buy privately so this is already an option, however due to expense I doubt they’ll do it on the NHS.

The smart inhalers are already available and there is talk for prescribing them to asthmatics in the nhs 10 yr plan. They’re currently used in some research/trials privately.

Personally not sure how I feel about it if it does happen - it seems a bit invasive tbh tho would help demo med adherence and monitor problems so 🤷‍♀️

Hope that helps

Minushabens profile image
Minushabens

I use a digital PFM which was pricey. There was an option to add a computer connection to auto-record & generate graphs, but I couldn't afford the extra bits for it.

I did design a spreadsheet for recording peak flow, particularly for recording variation over time which a few people on here tested. I still have a few things to do with it, but I think it works OK if you are reasonably able to use Excel.

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Minushabens

I have a smart pfm (which is also meant to do FEV1 but unsure how reliable that is!). Mine comes with an app which generates a chart automatically, remembers your score and works out your % and zone colours the score (there’s a place to put your best PF score in 😅). Tbh I still use my manual one more as it’s quicker to set up (ie not connection needed) but 🤷‍♀️

Minushabens profile image
Minushabens in reply to EmmaF91

Which one do you use out of interest? Mine does PF & FEV-1, which as you say I've tended not to bother about too much & I don't have the computer connection.

This is mine:

medicalexpo.com/prod/carema...

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Minushabens

This is what I have (tho use the smart one app not activ8rlives) amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FWHQLIU/...

Here’s the NICE info/advice about it;

nice.org.uk/advice/mib96/re...

Minushabens profile image
Minushabens in reply to EmmaF91

That looks a bit more like the ones that the hospital use than mine; I often think the mouthpiece on mine is a bit rubbish...maybe I need to start saving up!

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to Minushabens

Meant to put my reply below as a reply to this! Given issues with the digital meter that I personally seem to have, I have gone back to manual with a basic but good app on phone which notes whether blow is pre or post medication and allows you to enter a PB and a few notes - think this will do the job.

Meliko profile image
Meliko in reply to Lysistrata

I use this kind of app too - and just being able to show the graph or the list of readings is really helpful in appointments

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador

I used the same one Emma has but found the FEV1 especially varied a lot from official spirometry. I think that's user error more than anything- I'm still terrible at spirometry despite being a former oboist (so would think I could learn how!), but makes me wonder how reliable some smart technology is still if dependent on user technique.

I will say my Fostair Nexthaler doesn't register a dose taken unless you do it properly and it isn't a smart one. I wonder if smart inhalers can give feedback on technique to the user? More feedback would really help me - the home gadget has some but not enough, and the physiologist doing my spirometry last time saw me use it and said the problem is I need a different type of blow for FEV1 vs peak flow.

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata

Rumour has it that there would be technique feedback on the smart inhalers.

Yes that was my thought about fev1 vs PF! At RBH they used to used a mechanical spiro and a PFM... the technique always felt different to me! (However they now use the same brand machine as our ones just a different version/type I think 🤷‍♀️. Last time it was all done on that!)

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91

Yes I had been wondering the same! And when she said it also wondered re the machine I was using for the official spiro!

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata

Ps not sure if you’ve found this before but if not here it is!(NICE advice for smart one PFMs)

nice.org.uk/advice/mib96/re...

I know there's already smart one's out just wondered what people thought of them

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