Breathlessness relief at home (BREATHE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breathlessness RElief AT HomE (BREATHE): A feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) to test if a definitive cRCT is possible to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a paramedic-administered breathlessness crisis intervention for people with acute-on-chronic breathlessness compared with usual care.
IRAS ID
252159
Contact name
Ann Hutchinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Breathlessness is common in people with heart and lung conditions and can get very severe and frightening. When this happens patients or family members often call an ambulance, especially when their own doctor’s surgery is closed. In a recent study, we found that 1 in 5 of all people taken by ambulance to Accident and Emergency (A&E) called for help because of breathlessness. A third of these did not need to stay in hospital and went home. There are treatments to calm severe breathlessness that could be used in the patient’s home. If paramedics can use this approach, breathlessness may be calmed more quickly and some people may not need to go to A&E.We want to see if it is possible to run a research study with people calling ambulances because of breathlessness. We will test if paramedics trained in breathlessness techniques can ease breathlessness more quickly than usual care, and help more people stay at home. People with severe breathlessness have worked with us, said this is important and have agreed to help us run the study.
Eight paramedics in the Yorkshire area will be chosen at random to use the breathing calming techniques in breathless patients or to give usual care. We will note if patients’ breathing settles better compared to usual care, and whether the patient still needs to go to A&E.
At the end of this “test” study, we will know if, i) such care can be used by paramedics, ii) a larger trial can be done and iii) the best way to run it. This study is a key first step to help people with severe breathlessness needing emergency help.
Summary of Results
Twenty-nine paramedics in Yorkshire were chosen at random to use techniques to ease breathlessness with patients or to provide usual care. We noted how quickly patients’ breathing settled and whether the patient was taken to A&E. We aimed to find sixty patients to take part in this study, but because of the pandemic, only thirteen patients could be recruited.
However, from this “test” study, we now know that patients, carers and paramedics find these techniques to ease breathlessness helpful. We know that paramedics can collect study information from patients at call-out, and we have learned a lot about the best way to run a future study. We still need to do some further work before we can run the larger study, such as making changes to the way we recruit patients.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0314
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion