Mobile CHESS (MCHESS) Research on Emergency Medical Services for Children
Four hundred Milwaukee Medicaid recipients (ages 12-18), with an asthma-related emergency care visit or hospitalization in the last twelve months, will be recruited through their managed care organization (MCO). They will be randomly assigned to one of two study arms and will participate in a 12-month intervention plus a 12-month follow-up period. Subjects in the control group will receive a smartphone with Internet access & text messaging service. These devices will provide the ability to collect smartphone use data electronically. The experimental group will also receive the same smartphone devices. In addition, the experimental group will have access to the MCHESS interface. The MCHESS smartphone interface features an interactive, Internet-based asthma education program, peer support mechanisms and automated reminders for asthma control medicines and data collection.
Outcomes
The primary aims of this randomized controlled clinical trial are to test whether an asthma care management system, MCHESS, delivered via a smartphone can support low income teenagers with significant asthma and can improve asthma control and reduce asthma-related emergency or urgent care visits and hospitalizations. Secondary aims include whether MCHESS increases adherence to asthma control medication and reduces absenteeism from school, work or events. This study is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin's Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS), the University of Wisconsin Pediatric Asthma Clinical Research Program and two Milwaukee-based managed care organizations.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
David Gustafson
Professor
- Department/Unit
- Industrial Engineering
- School or College
- College of Engineering