The ASSIST Study: case finding and 'at risk' case management
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The ASSIST Study: A clinical interventional study into Airways diSease caSe-fInding and ‘At RiSk’ case managemenT
IRAS ID
187197
Contact name
Tom Wilkinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 3 days
Research summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease where the lungs become damaged slowly over time, usually by smoking. Government policies in the UK support earlier diagnosis of COPD, so that timely treatment and support may be offered. We are working with National Health Service (NHS) organisations and GP practices in order to find the best way to identify or ‘case find’ people with COPD as early as possible. There are different electronic methods of ‘case-finding’ in COPD but these methods have not yet been validated.
The aim of the study is to find the the best way to identify, or 'case-find' patients who have not yet been diagnosed with COPD and also identify patients with more complex disease using a computerised search programme.
GP practices within the Wessex region will be invited to take part in this study and this is where the ‘case-finding’ will take place. Patients who have a significant respiratory history with no formal diagnosis of COPD will be invited to take part. They will have a ‘lung health-check’ with a specialist lung nurse. If the results show that the patient has COPD, the GP will be told of the results and followed up by them. The patient will be given education and information from the study team at their study visit.
The patients identified as having difficult COPD and asthma and considered 'at risk', will be invited in for a study visit with a Lung Specialist Doctor and specialist nurse, where they will have a lung health check, confirmation of diagnosis, commence and/or change of medication, education and onward referral to appropriate services as required.
Both groups of patients will be asked to complete of questionnaires at 3 (case finding) or 6 (at risk) and 12 months (both groups).REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0629
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion