Trial results for the Managing AsThma AnD Obesity Related Symptoms (MATADORS) feasibility study, evaluating a mobile application for youth with Obesity and asthma, were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-07-23. The study enrolled 24 participants, with 21 completing the 4-week study period across two intervention groups.
Background
Obesity and asthma are common chronic conditions in children and adolescents, often co-occurring and impacting overall health and quality of life. Effective self-management strategies are crucial for youth to manage their clinical conditions, symptoms, and health maintenance as they transition to adulthood. Mobile applications offer a potential tool to enhance these self-management efforts. The MATADORS study aimed to test the feasibility of such an app to refine its design and interventional approaches for future larger-scale studies.
Trial design
This feasibility study, which did not specify a phase, enrolled a total of 24 participants. The study focused on individuals with Asthma in Children, Obesity, Obesity, Adolescent, and Obesity, Childhood. The intervention involved the use of a mobile application (MATADORS app) designed to help increase self-management strategies. Participants were divided into two groups: one receiving the MATADORS App with Basic Information, and another receiving the MATADORS App with Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features. The study duration was 4 weeks.
Key results
The trial results provided several key measurements related to participant engagement and outcomes:
- For the group using the MATADORS App Basic Information, the number of participants completing the 4-week study period was 10.
- For the group using the MATADORS App to Include Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features, the number of participants completing the 4-week study period was 11.
- There were 0 participants lost to follow-up in both the MATADORS App Basic Information group and the MATADORS App to Include Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features group.
- Study withdrawals included 2 participants from the MATADORS App Basic Information group and 1 participant from the MATADORS App to Include Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features group.
- End of study dyadic interviews were completed by 7 participants in the MATADORS App Basic Information group and 11 participants in the MATADORS App to Include Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features group.
- Regarding Change in Fatigue, for the MATADORS App Basic Information group, the mean T score was 49 with a Standard Deviation of 14.7, and another measurement showed a mean T score of 42.9 with a Standard Deviation of 14.1.
- For the MATADORS App to Include Basic Information and Expanded Educational Features group, the mean T score for Change in Fatigue was 47.2 with a Standard Deviation of 13.8, and another measurement showed a mean T score of 47.2 with a Standard Deviation of 12.0.
What this means
The results of the MATADORS feasibility study indicate a high completion rate for the 4-week intervention, with 21 out of 24 enrolled participants finishing the study across both app groups. The reported 0 loss to follow-up in both groups, coupled with a low number of study withdrawals (2 in one group, 1 in the other), suggests good participant retention and engagement with the mobile application. These findings support the feasibility of using a mobile app for self-management strategies in youth with asthma and obesity. The collection of fatigue data, while not explicitly tied to a primary outcome in this feasibility context, provides initial insights into potential health-related quality of life measures. The successful completion and retention rates will inform the refinement of the app and the design of future, larger-scale studies aimed at evaluating the app's efficacy in improving self-management and health outcomes.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05742646, titled "Managing AsThma AnD Obesity Related Symptoms (MATADORS) Feasibility Study", were posted on 2025-07-23 on clinicaltrials.gov.