Technical Description of eHealth Tools in an Environmental Exposure Chamber: Implementation Study

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• eHealth and Digital Health
• Clinical Research Technology

Background:

• Environmental exposure chambers (EECs) offer controlled aeroallergen exposure for allergic rhinitis research.
• Real-time, remote symptom monitoring within EECs presents significant challenges.
• Standardized symptom assessment is crucial for reproducible allergic rhinitis studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate an integrated eHealth system for real-time clinical monitoring during EEC exposures.
• To enhance workflow efficiency, data reliability, and patient safety in allergen challenge studies.
• To leverage digital tools for streamlined data collection and remote patient observation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective pilot study was conducted in a validated EEC using standardized grass pollen exposure.
• 34 provocation tests were performed on allergic patients and nonallergic controls.
• Data collection utilized REDCap for automated surveys (VAS, TNSS, TOSS, PEF, PNIF) and Power BI for real-time visualization.

Main Results:

• 85% of allergic patients showed a positive response to allergen exposure, with a median Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) of 6.
• Mean exposure time for positive responders was 48.9 minutes, with early withdrawal based on symptom thresholds.
• The integrated system enabled consistent, real-time symptom monitoring and successful data synchronization between REDCap and Power BI.

Conclusions:

• The integrated eHealth system facilitated automated, real-time symptom tracking during EEC exposures.
• This solution enhanced clinical oversight, supported timely decisions, and ensured patient safety.
• The platform offers a flexible model for remote monitoring in allergen studies and other clinical settings.