Evidence generation plan for HTE10063 Digital technologies to support asthma self-management

Comment on chapter: 5 Minimum evidence standards5 Minimum evidence standards

During the evidence generation period, new technologies may become available. This section summarises the minimum evidence requirements that a new technology would need to meet to be considered in the NICE evaluation after the evidence generation period.

The minimum evidence standards for this topic were informed by company submissions, the external assessment group (EAG) report and the committee discussions. Together, these sources provided an overview of the current clinical and economic evidence for digital technologies supporting asthma self-management in the NHS.

The committee noted that, although evidence was available across some outcomes, such as asthma control, quality of life and user experience, there were important limitations. Comparative evidence was limited, follow-up periods were short and there was a lack of reliable data on uptake, sustained engagement and attrition. Evidence on exacerbations, medication use and service utilisation was inconsistent, and the small incremental benefits reported created uncertainty in the economic modelling. Several studies were done outside the UK or lacked sufficient detail on clinical pathways, so generalisability to NHS practice was uncertain.

Future studies will help to address key uncertainties, strengthen understanding of clinical outcomes and support future decision making on whether these technologies should be routinely used in the NHS.