Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major global public health challenge, affecting over 300 million people worldwide and ranking among the leading causes of mortality. Although conventional pulmonary rehabilitation programs are effective, poor long-term adherence and limited accessibility hinder their impact . In China alone, COPD affects more than 100 million people, many of whom live in community and home settings, creating an urgent need for convenient, sustainable digital management tools to improve outcomes and quality of life .
“HooHoo Frog” is a home-based digital therapeutic app for COPD patients, co-developed by a multidisciplinary China–NZ team. It combines evidence-based respiratory rehabilitation protocols with gamification to make daily training more engaging. Guided by a cartoon frog avatar, patients follow clinically recommended breathing exercises, reinforced with rewards and streak systems. The app also includes symptom diaries, educational knowledge cards, and interactive quizzes to improve health literacy and self-efficacy .
With HooHoo Frog, patients engage in personalized breathing exercises (e.g., pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing), typically lasting 5–10 minutes per session, guided by visual and audio cues. The health monitoring module enables patients to log symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, fatigue, and sleep quality, while integrating wearable data (e.g., SpO₂, heart rate, HRV, sleep) . Educational content is reinforced through COPD knowledge cards and quizzes, and weekly feedback reports provide personalized recommendations, helping patients detect risks early and maintain long-term adherence .
Evidence from systematic reviews shows that gamified interventions significantly improve exercise tolerance, motivation, and emotional well-being in COPD patients, while also enhancing adherence and quality of life . Pilot testing of HooHoo Frog has generated positive feedback, with strong usability scores and frequent daily engagement . With ongoing validation in hospitals and community settings, the platform is expected to deliver a new digital therapeutic model for COPD, offering higher adherence, better quality of life, and reduced healthcare burden.