The BEST WORK study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  BEST WORK study: Survey of Biological trEatments in Severe asThma and the impact on work

• IRAS ID

  313987

• Contact name

  Gareth Walters

• Contact email

  gareth.walters@uhb.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Asthma is a common condition affecting the airways, but some people have a more severe form of it, called severe asthma. This group struggles with frequent flare-ups and poor symptom control, even when taking the best available inhaled treatments properly. Over the past 15 years, managing severe asthma has improved a lot, thanks to research. Scientists have identified different "types" of asthma, which has led to the development of personalized treatments. These treatments, called biologic therapies, are often given as injections every 2–4 weeks. They help reduce the need for oral steroids, decrease asthma attacks, and make daily symptoms more manageable for many patients.
  However, there isn’t much information about how these biologic treatments affect people’s ability to work. Health problems can make it hard to do certain jobs, and the demands of managing a chronic condition—like attending medical appointments—can disrupt normal routines. So, our study aims to answer two key questions:

  1. Does biologic therapy improve patients’ ability to work?
  2. What factors related to employment and work ability are most important to people with severe asthma?

  To explore this, we will survey patients from an NHS clinic who have been on biologic therapy for over a year and are stable. Participants will complete an online or paper survey, depending on their preference. The survey will ask about their demographics (like age and gender), job situation, ability to work, and their asthma symptoms. We will analyze the results using simple statistics to look at patterns and trends. This will help us better understand how severe asthma and its treatment impact work life, and potentially improve support for patients in the future.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/WM/0173

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Jan 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion