title: The "physician on call patient engagement trial" (POPET): measuring the impact of a mobile patient engagement application on health outcomes and quality of life in allergic rhinitis and asthma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind study, we investigated the impact of a mobile patient engagement application on health outcomes and quality of life in allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 327 patients with diagnoses of persistent AR or mild-to-severe persistent asthma were randomized into 2 intervention groups and 2 control groups upon their admission at outpatient clinics. The intervention groups (POPET-AR and POPET-Asthma) received a mobile phone application ("physician on call patient engagement trial" [POPET]), enabling them to communicate with their physician, and record their health status and medication compliance. The AR groups completed the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) at initiation and at the first month of the study. The asthma groups completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT) at initiation and at the third month of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The POPET-AR group showed better clinical improvement than the control group in terms of the overall RQLQ score as well in measures of general problems, activity, symptoms other than nose/eye, and emotion domains (p < 0.05). In the POPET-Asthma group, more patients (49%) achieved a well-controlled asthma score (ACT > 19) compared with the control group (27%); this was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a mobile engagement platform, such as POPET, can have a significant impact on health outcomes and quality of life in both AR and asthma, potentially decreasing the number of hospital admissions, repeat doctor visits, and losses in productivity. Improvements were seen in domains related to activity, productivity, perception of disease, and emotion.
authors: ENT Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Cemal
authors: C
authors: Cingi
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
authors: Arzu
authors: A
authors: Yorgancioglu
authors: Faculty of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Can Cemal
authors: CC
authors: Cingi
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Kıvılcım
authors: K
authors: Oguzulgen
authors: ENT Department, Medical Faculty, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Nuray Bayar
authors: NB
authors: Muluk
authors: ENT Clinic, GOP Taksim Ilkyardım Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Seçkin
authors: S
authors: Ulusoy
authors: Faculty of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Nezih
authors: N
authors: Orhon
authors: Anaesthesiology Clinic, Taksim Ilkyardım Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Cengiz
authors: C
authors: Yumru
authors: Faculty of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Dursun
authors: D
authors: Gokdag
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Gul
authors: G
authors: Karakaya
authors: ENT Clinic, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Şaban
authors: Ş
authors: Çelebi
authors: ENT Clinic, Trabzon Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: H Bengü
authors: HB
authors: Çobanoglu
authors: ENT Clinic, Ekol ENT Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Halis
authors: H
authors: Unlu
authors: ENT Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Akif
authors: MA
authors: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D019114:Remote Consultation; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000068997:Smartphone; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asthma Control Test (ACT); Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ); allergic rhinitis (AR); asthma; medicine reminders; mobile applications; mobile health; patient communication; patient engagement; physician on call patient engagement trial (POPET)