Distress caused by episodic breathlessness in lung cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Distress caused by elements of episodic breathlessness in patients with advanced lung cancer
IRAS ID
182605
Contact name
Emily Stowe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Our understanding of breathlessness in advanced disease has improved in recent years, with greater focus on the presence of episodic breathlessness. Episodic breathlessness has been defined as a severe worsening of breathlessness intensity or unpleasantness beyond the usual fluctuations of breathlessness. Many studies have described the distressing nature of breathlessness for patients, with descriptors such as terrifying, anxiety provoking and unpredictable being used by study participants. Differences in these experiences between patients with different diseases causing breathlessness have been identified. Explorations of episodic breathlessness have defined the most common frequency, duration and severity of episodes but have not identified which of these three aspects is most bothersome for patients. This project aims to explore this question in adults with lung cancer, by asking participants to complete diaries for seven days prior to completion of a semi-structured interview. Participants will be drawn from the caseload of a community palliative care team at a hospice in Essex. The data drawn from the interviews and diaries will be analysed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, allowing focus on exploring the meaning of the three elements of episodic breathlessness, duration, frequency and intensity.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1423
Date of REC Opinion
13 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion