Lambeth and Southwark Singing and COPD Project Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of regular community singing for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Lambeth and Southwark
IRAS ID
165946
Contact name
Stephen Clift
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
An evaluation of regular community singing for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Lambeth and Southwark
COPD is a incurable but treatable respiratory disease and a major source of disease burden globally. Previous research into the value of singing for people with the disease has produced encouraging but limited findings. This study proposes to build on a feasibility study in Kent which showed improvements in measures of air exhaled (spirometry) over the course of ten months. A further study is needed to assess whether positive results can be repeated in an area with a very different population profile. We plan to set up a community singing programme for 100-120 patients with COPD in four venues in Lambeth and Southwark, tailored to the population’s specific needs. Recruitment will be through a GP letter of information to patients. The programme will involve breathing exercises and a singing repertoire which will encourage controlled breathing. Assessments of lung function and exercise will be gathered before and after a year of weekly singing. We will also ask participants to complete questionnaires about their breathing, quality of life, personal wellbeing and use of health services at the start, mid-point and the end of the same period. Some participants will also be asked for permission to have their breathing patterns assessed by a new method called structured light plethysmography. All this information will help us tell whether the findings from our Kent study can apply in a more urban setting. It will provide evidence on whether singing for people with COPD helps breathing and contributes to feelings of wellbeing and will enable us to evaluate the economic impacts of the initiative for the NHS and social services. The study will be funded by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0101
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion