Smart spirometer app boosts Post-Surgery breathing exercise adherence
NCT ID NCT06629454
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a digital incentive spirometer and phone app designed to help patients do breathing exercises after major chest surgery. Thirty-one adults who had lung resection surgery used the device, which included reminders, game-like features, and progress tracking. The goal was to see if these features improved how often and consistently patients performed their breathing exercises.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- digital incentive spirometer device and companion mobile app
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could improve recovery after chest surgery by helping patients stick to breathing exercises.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, early study with only 31 people and no comparison group. The device may not work for everyone or improve actual health outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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31 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2024
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form 2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study 3. Male or female, 18 years or older. 4. Undergoes any anatomic lung resection surgery 5. An incentive spirometer is expected to be ordered for the patient as standard-of-care 6. There is no restriction on active medications. Exclusion Criteria: There are no exclusions based on economic status, gender, race, or ethnicity. An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1. Vulnerable populations who in the opinion of the investigator are unable to give Informed Consent for reasons of incapacity, immaturity, adverse personal circumstances or lack of autonomy. 2. History of prior non-compliance to prescribed therapy or presence or history of significant psychiatric condition (e.g., drug or alcohol addiction, psychosis, schizophrenia), or cognitive issue which would in the opinion of the investigator, make it difficult for the patient to comply with the study procedures or follow the investigators instructions. 3. Populations for whom in the opinion of the investigator, incentive spirometry is deemed inappropriate due to medical condition or otherwise. 4. Pregnant individuals due to low likelihood of meeting inclusion criteria 4. Licensed medical professionals on the clinical team will follow proper procedures in determining if the individual is consenting. Proper procedures entail doing all of the following: giving a patient adequate information concerning the study, providing adequate opportunity for the patient to consider all options, responding to the patient's questions, ensuring that the patient has comprehended this information, obtaining the patient's voluntary agreement to participate and, continuing to provide information as the patient or situation requires. There will be ample opportunity for the patient to ask questions. In the event that the patient is in a vulnerable population and unable to provide consent, they will not be eligible to participate in the study and thus will not be screened. If the individual is not able to provide informed consent or if consent is not certain due to impairments or other factors, they will not be considered for study participation. In the event that the patient is in a vulnerable population and unable to provide consent, they will not be eligible to participate in the study and thus will not be screened.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Penn Medicine Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 08003, United States
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Penn Medicine University City
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Penn Medicine Valley Forge
Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 19312, United States
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Penn Thoracic Surgery Presbyterian
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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