UPTURN Feasibility Study (WP1b)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a support package to increase the UPTake of pUlmonary RehabilitatioN for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the UPTURN WP1b study
IRAS ID
331025
Contact name
Jonathan Fuld
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
In England, around 80,000 people are diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) each year. While COPD isn’t curable, treatments like Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) can significantly improve quality of life by reducing breathlessness and hospital admissions. PR combines education and exercise, but about 30% of patients referred do not attend the initial assessment, which determines programme suitability. Non-attendance is especially high in deprived and ethnic minority communities.
Our previous research identified barriers to PR attendance, including service-related issues (e.g. long waits) and practical challenges (e.g. transport). As part of the UPTURN programme’s first work package, further qualitative research was conducted with patients and carers from Bangladeshi, Black African, and Black Caribbean communities to continue to explore these barriers from a behavioural change perspective.
This led to the co-design of the “Prepare for PR service,” a multi-component intervention developed with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. Delivered by Asthma + Lung UK (A+LUK) Health Advisor team, it includes a document pack explaining PR, online resources, and a free support call.
This feasibility study (WP1b) will use a single-arm (no comparison), opt-out (no consent) participation design and recruit 40 participants who will be purposively sampled (selection on specific characteristics) from three or more NHS PR providers. These will be selected in areas of high ethnic diversity, socioeconomic deprivation, and COPD prevalence. The goal is to assess the implementation and acceptability of the intervention in as diverse a patient population as possible so that all the elements can be assessed. Additional consented qualitative interviews will also be conducted with the participants, A+LUK team and site staff. Trial feasibility will be assessed using both participant data and a data-only cohort from the same sites.
Findings will inform whether a larger trial comparing the intervention to usual care for effectiveness is feasible.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0811
Date of REC Opinion
12 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion