The emPHasis-10 questionnaire, designed to reflect that lived experience, has long been a trusted tool in both clinics and studies but until now, it was only available on paper.
In a new UK-wide study, researchers led by Dr. Joseph Newman and colleagues tested the first digital version of emPHasis-10 using the Atom5™ smartphone app. Their findings? The digital version is not only just as reliable as paper, it’s also highly acceptable to patients and shows strong adherence over time.
Fifty-one adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension took part, completing both formats over a 26-week period. Scores were virtually identical between paper and app, with very high statistical agreement (r = 0.98). Nearly one-third of participants completed every digital entry, and most reported they found the app easy, useful, and would use it again in clinical care or research.
This marks the first formal equivalence study of digital emPHasis-10 and supports its use in remote monitoring and patient-centered trials. Developed with input from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK, the tool can now be tailored to patient preferences whether digital or paper.
As digital health becomes more embedded in care, this validated app opens the door to more flexible, accessible, and meaningful quality-of-life tracking for those living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Citation
Newman J, Varian F, Hitchcock F, et al. Comparability, acceptability and longitudinal adherence with digital emPHasis-10 in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2025; in press.10.1183/13993003.00198-2025
Read more at this link on the ERS Publications website
