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Hailie app

Also called smart inhaler

An app for people with asthma or COPD, to help them remember to use their inhalers.

Hailie app	By Adherium (NZ) Limited
	Features Medication reminders for inhalers Audiovisual reminder Electronically monitors compliance Syncs to phone Track peak flow (manual input) Get the app from (external link) (external link) (external link)
Country of origin	New Zealand
Clinical review	At current price If on sale Read a clinical review of this app.
Cost	Requires a subscription One sensor plus app: $99.50 per year Two sensors plus app: $149.50 per year Learn more about app charges

What does the app do?

This app links to a Hailie™ sensor for your inhaler(s) via bluetooth. You can then track medication use and enable an audio and visual reminder for dosing. There are a range of Hailie sensors, each designed to work with a different inhaler type. The app has built-in audio visual alarms to remind you when to take a puff and sensors to track whether you did. This is to encourage you to remember to use your inhaler on time. The app syncs automatically with your Hailie™ sensor, giving you access to your medication history. If you're caring for an elderly parent or child, the Hailie app helps you keep track of their doses, even when you are not there.

How to get started?

There are attachable sensors for most available asthma inhalers in New Zealand. They are purchasable via subscription from the app website(external link). They will be delivered to you, and you can then follow the setup instructions online to link to the app. For a more detailed description of the app, see Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and for a detailed review, see Reviews.

PROS	CONS
✔ Set up a prescribed dosing schedule. ✔ Programmable alarm for medication reminders. ✔ See reports of your inhaler usage ( historical compliance). ✔ Once it is all set up it is very easy to use. ✔ Compact design ✔ Their research on the MDI and turbuhaler versions showed accuracies of 99.7% and 99.9%, respectively (1,2). Research on an older version of their device showed that it improved adherence (3)	✘ The turbuhaler device occasionally doesn't register puffs especially if inhaling too fast. ✘ Sometimes it doesn't sync for a couple of days, but there is a force sync option. ✘ Set up can be challenging and the package instruction leaflet should have more detail. However, the support team is very helpful in getting it running. ✘ If you carried one inhaler at home and one at work/school then you would obviously need two devices. ✘ The devices only detected rotation (turbuhaler) and actuation (MDI), not flow so it would be easy to fake compliance. ✘ The device is not rechargeable. With the subscription you receive a replacement when the battery runs out. ✘ No feedback on correct inhaler use like some competitors. For example, it doesn’t tell you if you haven’t shaken it before use, if you held it in the correct orientation or if you breathed in deep or long enough. ✘ No education within the app about asthma and correct inhaler use etc. ✘ There is the odd inhaler for which there is currently no device available such as the Breo Ellipta. ✘ It is quite pricey and it is on subscription. At the time of review it was $99.50 per year for one device, and $149.50 per year for two devices. It seems to go on sale sometimes (for example two devices for $41.33 in April 2018).

PROS

CONS

✔ Set up a prescribed dosing schedule.

✔ Programmable alarm for medication reminders.

✔ See reports of your inhaler usage ( historical compliance).

✔ Once it is all set up it is very easy to use.

✔ Compact design

✔ Their research on the MDI and turbuhaler versions showed accuracies of 99.7% and 99.9%, respectively (1,2).
Research on an older version of their device showed that it improved adherence (3)

✘ The turbuhaler device occasionally doesn't register puffs especially if inhaling too fast.

✘  Sometimes it doesn't sync for a couple of days, but there is a force sync option.

✘  Set up can be challenging and the package instruction leaflet should have more detail. However, the support team is very helpful in getting it running.

✘  If you carried one inhaler at home and one at work/school then you would obviously need two devices.

✘  The devices only detected rotation (turbuhaler) and actuation (MDI), not flow so it would be easy to fake compliance.

✘ The device is not rechargeable. With the subscription you receive a replacement when the battery runs out.

✘  No feedback on correct inhaler use like some competitors. For example, it doesn’t tell you if you haven’t shaken it before use, if you held it in the correct orientation or if you breathed in deep or long enough.

✘  No education within the app about asthma and correct inhaler use etc.

✘ There is the odd inhaler for which there is currently no device available such as the Breo Ellipta.

✘  It is quite pricey and it is on subscription. At the time of review it was $99.50 per year for one device, and $149.50 per year for two devices. It seems to go on sale sometimes (for example two devices for $41.33 in April 2018).

Privacy and security

The developers have a privacy policy. The device is linked to your email address. Read more about things you can do to improve your safety and security when using apps.

Review details

Date of review: June 2018
Platform reviewed: Android (requires 5.0 and up)
Version: 6.1.0.8
Download size: 16 MB

References

Patel M, Pilcher J, Chan A, Perrin K, Black P, Beasley R. Six-month in vitro validation of a metered-dose inhaler electronic monitoring device: Implications for asthma clinical trial use. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Dec 1;130(6):1420–2.
Pilcher J, Shirtcliffe P, Patel M, McKinstry S, Cripps T, Weatherall M, et al. Three-month validation of a turbuhaler electronic monitoring device: implications for asthma clinical trial use. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2015 Nov 1;2(1):e000097.
Chan AHY, Stewart AW, Harrison J, Camargo CA, Black PN, Mitchell EA. The effect of an electronic monitoring device with audiovisual reminder function on adherence to inhaled corticosteroids and school attendance in children with asthma: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2015 Mar 1;3(3):210–9.
Inhaler reminders improve adherence with controller treatment in primary care patients with asthma(external link) - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology [Internet].

App developer: If you are the developer and would like to provide updated information about this app, please email the app library manager at hello@healthify.nz

Disclaimer: Healthify’s app library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Credits: Editorial team

Reviewed by: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP

Last reviewed: 28 Jun 2018

Page last updated: 11 Nov 2021