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Boosting Referrals to Asthma Specialists for Patients Seen at the Emergency Room for an Asthma Exacerbation

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Phone or video check-ins

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "The main question the study aims to answer is whether arranging a telehealth visit directly from the ER increases the number of patients who complete a follow up appointment with an asthma specialist within three months."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study is for adults with ongoing asthma who visit the emergency room (ER) for an asthma attack. It compares a video or phone visit with an asthma specialist booked before leaving the ER with the usual referral without a booked visit. The study will check whether booking the visit helps more people see a specialist within three months and improves asthma care.

This study is testing a new way to help adults with asthma get follow up care after an emergency room (ER) visit for an asthma attack. Many people who come to the ER for asthma never see an asthma specialist afterward, even though specialists can offer treatments such as advanced inhalers or biologic medicines that may prevent future attacks. The study will compare two approaches. One group will receive a telehealth appointment with an asthma specialist that is scheduled for them before they leave the ER. The other group will receive the usual care, which typically includes a standard referral but no scheduled appointment. All participants will be offered a prescription for standard controller medication at discharge. The main question the study aims to answer is whether arranging a telehealth visit directly from the ER increases the number of patients who complete a follow up appointment with an asthma specialist within three months. The study will also look at whether this approach improves asthma control, reduces repeat ER visits, and helps patients better understand and use their asthma medications. This research may help identify a practical way to improve access to asthma specialists and reduce the burden of asthma for patients who frequently rely on emergency care.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Be age 18 or older.
  • Have been diagnosed with asthma at least one year ago.
  • Be seen in the ER for an asthma attack.
  • Have ongoing asthma and use controller medicine, which helps prevent symptoms.
  • Have had at least one asthma attack in the past year.

Who can't join

  • Have seen an asthma specialist, such as an allergy or lung doctor, for asthma in the past year.
  • Have another lung disease. COPD, a long-term lung disease that limits airflow, is allowed only under the exceptions below.
  • If you have COPD, you must either have never smoked, vaped, or used cannabis, or meet one of the breathing-test exceptions below.
  • If you have COPD and have smoked, vaped, or used cannabis, you may qualify with normal breathing tests: an FEV1/FVC ratio of at least 70%. This measures how much air you can blow out in one second compared with the total.
  • If that ratio is below 70%, you may still qualify if medicine to open your airways improves either of two breathing measures by more than 10% of the expected value, and a test shows normal oxygen transfer from your lungs to your blood.
  • Breathing tests used for these COPD exceptions must be recorded in your medical record and done within 36 months before joining.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * Asthma diagnosis ≥1 year * Seen in ER for asthma exacerbation * Persistent asthma on controller therapy * ≥1 asthma exacerbation in prior year Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have seen an asthma specialist (allergist or pulmonologist) for asthma in the past 1 year * Diagnosis of other pulmonary diseases (e.g., COPD, interstitial lung disease, etc.) We will allow for current smokers, vapers and cannabis users as long as they meet one of the COPD-allowable pathways below. COPD-allowable pathways: If none of the below are satisfied, then exclude for COPD. Documentation: PFTs must be within 36 months of enrollment date; smoking history must be calculated and entered in this form based on patient input. Pack- year history will be collected for characterization/analysis but will not determineeligibility. We will allow for COPD as long as they are: * never smokers/vapers/cannabis users; * former or current smokers/vapers/cannabis users with normal PFTs with FEV1/FVC \>=70% documented in a medical record within 36 months of the enrollment date * former or current smoker/vapers/cannabis users with obstruction noted on PFTs (i.e., FEV1/FVC \<70%) but who demonstrates BOTH acute bronchodilator reversibility (i.e., \>10% increase in either FEV1%predicted or FVC% predicted) AND have a normal diffusing capacity (DLCO)

Study sites (1)

FL