PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ben Ainsworth
AU  - Sabina Stanescu
AU  - Sarah Kirby
AU  - Beth Stuart
AU  - Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy
AU  - Ratko Djukanovic
AU  - Mike Thomas
TI  - Investigating the feasibility of a mobile mindfulness-based digital intervention for patients with asthma
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.OA285
DP  - 2018 Sep 15
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - OA285
VI  - 52
IP  - suppl 62
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/suppl_62/OA285.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/suppl_62/OA285.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2018 Sep 15; 52
AB  - Background: Mindfulness (meditation-based therapy facilitating adaptive mental/emotional responses) can improve quality of life for asthma patients although challenges remain about uptake and engagement. Digital interventions (DIs) may improve treatment access as an effective alternative to face-to-face psychotherapy.Aim: We conducted a well-powered randomised controlled feasibility trial of ‘Headspace’, a digital mindfulness intervention.Method: 160 patients (36% male, age M 51.4, SD 14.9) were recruited from 16 local GP practices. 102 patients were randomised to Headspace and 58 to control. Participants completed online/postal questionnaires of quality of life (AQLQ), asthma control (ACQ), anxiety (HADS), enablement (PEI) and medication adherence (MARSA) at baseline, 6-week and 3-month follow-up. Intervention engagement was monitored and 20 patients were purposively sampled for an in-depth interview.Results: Intervention engagement was very high (Logins M 19.8) and 50% of patients logged in 7+ times. 65% of patients completed the main outcome (AQLQ) at 3-months (6-wk: 71%). Interim analysis found AQLQ scores increased in the intervention group at 6-week (M Diff=0.27, t(55)=2.71, p=.009) and 3-month (M Diff=0.52, t(28)=4.54,p<.001) but not in the control group (M6wk=0.03, M3m=0.07). Only 12 patients withdrew from the study. Thematic interview analysis highlighted the accessibility of DIs and the importance of a focus on quality of life.Conclusions: This well-powered study shows Headspace is a feasible, acceptable digital mindfulness intervention to trial in people with asthma. Ongoing analysis is assessing improvements in quality of life and anxiety to inform a large efficacy trial.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, OA285.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).