Portable spirometry study in cystic fibrosis Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of portable spirometry in adults with cystic fibrosis
IRAS ID
340274
Contact name
Aqeem Azam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common fatal genetic disease affecting people in the UK. It affects different organs of the body, especially the lungs. People with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) would need to take multiple medications to optimise their lung health, with regular monitoring. One of the most widely used monitoring tool is a spirometer; a device to measure your lung capacity. Spirometry is now available as a portable handheld device and can be taken at home. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure PwCF were safe during the outbreak while maintaining their regular CF care, the government launched a nationwide initiative of supplying PwCF home spirometers. The practice of home spirometry continues until today. My research aims to evaluate the clinical utility of home spirometry and their role in CF care, from both the patients and healthcare providers point of view.
My research focuses on home spirometry in adults with CF in the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre (MACFC). This is a single-site NHS study. I aim to analyse the results of our home spirometer (AirNext by NuvoAir) supplied by our CF centre to our patients, assessing the trends of spirometry from different angles. For example, I will look at the number and quality of spirometry readings throughout the years, the motivation behind doing a spirometry at home, and patients and healthcare providers perception on the device. My research will involve analysing data using statistical methods (quantitative study), and sending surveys and conducting approximately 20-minute interviews with PwCF and healthcare providers (qualitative study). Only patients and healthcare providers associated with the MACFC will be recruited. This study is sponsored by the University of Manchester (UoM) as part of a student research and internally funded by the MACFC.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0226
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion