An interventional study of synchronous interactive audio/video telecommunication in Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, sponsored by Breathe California, Los Angeles County. Completed. Open to participants aged 45 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2010-07-13.
Sponsored by Breathe California, Los Angeles County · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
HYPOTHESIS:The study purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured pursed-lips breathing (PLB) protocol taught via real-time interactive telecommunication with a home computer using the lnternet and Skype software in veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD. The primary hypothesis is veterans with COPD and dyspnea on exertion who receive a PLB educational intervention taught via weekly interactive telecommunication over a 4-week period will have greater reduction of exertional dyspnea compared to those who receive the PLB educational intervention with no weekly interactive sessions.
RESEARCH PLAN: An experimental two- group design is used. All subjects receive a brief 5 - 10 minute one-on-one PLB educational session. Subjects are then randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group receives 4 weekly interactive group sessions with the health educator (principal investigator)via computer. A free software program known as Skype allows synchronous video and audio interaction. The comparison group receives only the brief PLB educational session with no weekly follow-up.
RESULTS: At end of 4 weeks, the intervention group had significantly lower dyspnea intensity scores (group X time interaction F = 6.69, p = 0.02) and significantly higher social support scores (group x time interaction F = 4.34, p = 0.058).
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Skype is a viable means for providing patient education. A structured PLB protocol provides significant differences in exertional dyspnea over time. A structured PLB protocol plus Skype showed significant reduction in patients' sense of dyspnea intensity and increased social support scores.
3,303 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Diseases; 355 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 22 is below the median of 72 across 2,118 interventional studies indexed under Lung Diseases.
Browse Lung Diseases studies →This is the only study on the registry with Breathe California, Los Angeles County as lead sponsor.
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Clinical diagnosis of COPD, expiratory airflow limitation evidenced by forced expiratory volume 1 second/forced vital capacity percent (FEV1/FVC %) less than 70 and FEV1 % predicted less than 80 with no reversibility by inhaled bronchodilator, and self report of shortness of breath when walking as assessed with the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) chronic dyspnea questionnaire.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Exacerbation of symptoms (dyspnea, increased sputum volume, and/or increased sputum purulence) within the past four weeks, hospital admission within the past four weeks, change in bronchodilator therapy within the past two weeks, unable to walk, unstable angina, unstable cardiac dysrhythmia, unstable congestive heart failure, and/or unstable neurosis or psychiatric disturbance.
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4 weekly synchronous interactive audio/video sessions on self-care management for dyspnea provided via the Internet and free downloadable software (Skype) on patients' home computer
Also known as: Skype
Dyspnea Intensity
Dyspnea Intensity is measured with the Visual Analogue Scale. The scale is a 100-cm horizontal line with verbal anchors at either end. Interval level data are obtained by measuring from left to the point marked by the subject. The subjects mark the scale with a pencil in response to the question, "During the last 24 hours, how easy or how hard was it to get your breath?"
Time frame: End of 4 weeks and end of 12 weeks
No study locations are listed for this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2010. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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