Lay summary
The objective is to investigate whether new technologies can reduce days of hospitalisation for high-risk patients with COPD. A randomised controlled trial will be conducted with Counties Manukau District Health Board, Southland District Health Board and Gore Health. Sixty participants will be randomised to receive either standard care, or standard care plus a robot. The robot will be programmed to provide medication management, telemedicine, blood pressure and blood oxygen monitoring, COPD questionnaires, and be linked to Smart inhaler devices to monitor adherence. The hypotheses are that telehealthcare will reduce hospital admissions and bed-care days compared to a control group, and that the robot will produce greater improvements in mental health, bigger reductions in loneliness, and better adherence than both the control and tablet groups. This research will deliver information about the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of this technology to inform COPD care.