IMT in people with COPD who decline pulmonary rehabilitation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility of inspiratory muscle training in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who decline pulmonary rehabilitation
IRAS ID
126808
Contact name
Catherine O'Connor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition affecting the airways. It costs the NHS over 900 million pounds per year. Half of this cost comes from treating people in hospital. People with COPD and breathlessness that limits activity are recommended to attend pulmonary rehabilitation (a programme of exercise and education). However many choose not to attend. People declining pulmonary rehabilitation are more likely to smoke, live in deprived areas, suffer from depression or anxiety and be admitted to hospital with breathing problems. It is important that we find alternative therapies that people find acceptable. One potential alternative is inspiratory muscle training.
Inspiratory muscle training is performed whilst seated and involves breathing in through a mouthpiece attached to a handheld device. The device is set at a level to make breathing in more difficult thereby strengthening the breathing muscles. Inspiratory muscle training helps people with COPD feel less breathless. It may improve quality of life and activity levels which may in turn lead to fewer admissions to hospital, saving the health service money.
The study we are proposing will look at inspiratory muscle training in people with COPD who do not wish to attend pulmonary rehabilitation. It may be hard to get people involved with a study if they have declined a recommended treatment as they may, for example, lack motivation. We will be performing a small study so that we can check that people are willing to become involved in the research and check that they will do the training regularly enough for it to be effective. We also want to interview people so we can understand what they want from treatment and what they think about the study. This will help us see if it is worth doing a larger study and help us design it.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0312
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion