Improving Airway Clearance Treatments in CF: children & young people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving Airway Clearance Treatments for better clinical outcomes in children and young people with CF (ImpACT4CF)
IRAS ID
350280
Contact name
Eleanor Main
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 2 days
Research summary
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening, multisystem genetic disease characterized by recurrent infection and inflammation in the lungs, and thick viscous mucus in the airways. Airway clearance treatments (ACTs), often involving positive expiratory pressure devices, clear sticky mucus from the lungs. ACTs can mitigate the progression of CF lung disease, but these routine treatments are burdensome.
Our previous research (Project Fizzyo) used a bespoke electronically chipped sensor to monitor breathing during routine ACTs. By recording the range, amount, patterns and type of self-administered ACTs by children and young people with CF (CYPwCF) at home, we quantified how often and how well people did their ACTs, and whether ACTs improved clinical outcomes. Results showed a clear benefit to ACT treatments – but crucially – the benefit was only observed in people who did ACTs correctly. CYPwCF who did ACTs correctly had better lung function than those who did not. However, less than one quarter of participants did ACTs correctly.
For this 2-arm, 6-stage, cohort pilot study of 36 CYPwCF, conducted over 3 months, we have built a new ImpACT4CF Sensor and App which records detailed breath-by-breath data, automatically synced to a secure data cloud. The App also gives live breath feedback to help CYPwCF do their ACTs correctly. We will test whether different feedback mechanisms (COUNT, GRAPH, COACH) improve the quality of breaths during ACTs compared with habitual patterns recorded during a baseline stage (RECORD). After 3 weeks in the COACH feedback stage, half of the participants will have feedback removed, to see whether any training effects are sustained. In those who continue to receive COACH feedback, we will assess participants' willingness to use it over a longer-term. We will ask participants about their experiences using the Sensor and App and ask expert physiotherapists about their opinions on the potential for clinical utility.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0517
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion