IMPROVE trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving life quality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by increasing uptake and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation with lay health workers: a cluster randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
308114
Contact name
Patrick White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN12658458
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NIHR HS&DR Programme, NIHR130999
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 10 days
Research summary
More than a million people in the UK are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the best treatment for the symptoms and impact of COPD, it improves quality of life and exercise capacity. PR classes include exercise and information on how to manage symptoms. The impact of PR is restricted by poor rates of uptake and completion. Only 4 out of 10 people with COPD, referred for PR, complete the classes.
Volunteers who have completed PR will be trained to support COPD patients who have been referred for PR. The volunteers will be called ‘PR-buddies’. In previous research we found that PR-buddies/Lay Health Workers (LHWs) can be successfully recruited and trained to support COPD patients referred for PR. PR-buddies were enthusiastic, committed volunteers, and patients welcomed their support. LHWs are effective in a range of health issues but they have not been used much in the NHS. We want to know if trained PR-buddies are effective and acceptable in improving the rates of uptake and completion of PR.
This study will use a 'train the trainer' model. The research team will recruit and train staff from PR teams across the UK in how to set-up and run a PR-buddy service. The PR-staff will then recruit and train patients from their service who have recently completed PR who volunteer to become PR-buddies. The training will include how to identify the barriers to attending PR and the use of behaviour change techniques to overcome these barriers and find effective ways to help people to attend PR. The PR-buddies will support patients who are newly referred for PR. The main outcome of the IMPROVE Trial is whether PR-buddies increase the rates of uptake and completion of PR compared with PR centres who do not have a PR-buddy service.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0330
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion