Acceptability and Use of Personalised Relaxation Techniques in COPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The acceptability and use of personalised relaxation techniques by patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a feasibility study
IRAS ID
229607
Contact name
David M G Halpin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study is the third component of a four stage project by the East Devon Respiratory Research Group (EDRRG) examining the role of anxiety in triggering admission to hospital for exacerbations of COPD and developing interventions to reduce anxiety with the aim of reducing admissions. The first stage of the project demonstrated that psychological distress, particularly anxiety, panic and fear, is elevated and common among patients at the time of an exacerbation of COPD (1). The second stage involved identifying patient preferences for different relaxation. Three techniques emerged as the most acceptable and helpful -Thinking of a Nice Place, Counting and Body Relaxation (2). The third stage is a pilot study that seeks to discover if patients with moderate to very severe COPD are receptive to and can be taught relaxation techniques, whether they practise them at home and whether they think they are useful in reducing anxiety and panic/fear. In addition we wish explore their opinions on using a variety of formats for delivering the intervention and whether these improve adherence. 120 patients with COPD attending respiratory medicine outpatient clinics, pulmonary rehabilitation clinics and primary care COPD annual review clinics will be to try relaxation techniques to help with their breathing. We expect approximately 90 to agree, and the three relaxation techniques will be presented to these patients. Participating patients will be given a DVD, a You-Tube link to the video and a paper version of the intervention and asked to practice the techniques daily for 10 weeks. They will be asked to complete a daily diary and scoring sheet assessing adherence to the technique(s) used and whether or not the techniques made them feel more relaxed and less breathless. Telephone contact at 5 and 10 weeks will identify possible difficulties and to gather qualitative feedback.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0396
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion