1 Purpose of this document
NICE's assessment of digital technologies to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommends that myCOPD can be used in the NHS while more evidence is generated, to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who cannot have or do not want face-to-face pulmonary rehabilitation. Other technologies considered in the guidance can only be used in research and are not covered in this plan.
This plan outlines the evidence gaps and what real-world data needs to be collected for a NICE review of the technology again in the future. It is not a study protocol but suggests an approach to generating the information needed to address the evidence gaps. Well-conducted randomised controlled trials are the preferred source of evidence for assessing comparative effects if these are able to address the research gap.
The company is responsible for ensuring that data collection and analysis takes place. Support for evidence generation may be available through schemes such as the NIHR-funded HealthTech Research Centres.
Guidance on commissioning and procurement of the technology will be provided by NHS England, which is developing a digital health technology policy framework to further outline commissioning pathways.
NICE will withdraw the guidance if the company does not meet the conditions in section 4 on monitoring.
After the end of the evidence generation period (3 years), the company should submit the evidence to NICE in a form that can be used for decision making. NICE will review all the evidence and assess whether or not the technology can be routinely adopted in the NHS.