1 Purpose of this document
NICE's assessment of digital technologies to support self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommends that Active+me REMOTE, Clinitouch, COPDhub, COPDPredict, Lenus COPD Support Service, Luscii, and myCOPD can be used in the NHS while more evidence is generated.
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. For assessing comparative treatment effects, well-conducted randomised controlled trials are the preferred source of evidence if these are able to address the research gap.
The companies are 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 technologies will be provided by NHS England. NHS England is developing a digital health technology policy framework to further outline commissioning pathways.
NICE will withdraw the guidance if the companies do not meet the conditions in section 4 on monitoring.
After the end of the evidence generation period (3 years, during which a minimum of 1 year of follow-up data will be collected), the companies 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 the technologies can be routinely adopted in the NHS.