FanFIRST
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fan Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) for people living with COPD and high SABA intake (FanFIRST)
IRAS ID
318320
Contact name
Michael. G Crooks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NIHR204349, Funder reference
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that affects older adults. Breathlessness is a common symptom and greatly impairs quality of life. COPD is mainly treated using regular inhalers taken every day. But, another type of inhaler, called a short-acting beta agonist (SABA), should only be used as-needed to provide short-term symptom relief.
COPD patients often don’t know how best to manage their breathlessness and can over-rely on their SABA, risking side-effects through overuse. People that over-rely on their SABA have worse breathlessness and increased likelihood of COPD ‘flare-ups’. By teaching COPD sufferers how to manage their breathlessness by using a hand-held-fan (HHF), and other techniques (the FanFIRST intervention), their breathlessness and SABA overuse may reduce. Fewer inhalers used each year could potentially benefit both patients and the environment.
A large trial is needed to tell if the FanFIRST intervention can help people manage their breathlessness and reduce SABA overuse. This feasibility trial will indicate suitability of a larger trial, best practices for execution (including how to rollout across the NHS), and sample-size estimate.
80 COPD patients that use their SABA inhaler frequently will be randomised to receive either the FanFIRST intervention, or usual care. All participants will be provided with sensors that attach to their SABA inhaler to record usage. Participants will complete a number of measures every 28 days, including measures of breathlessness, quality of life and healthcare contacts. Average SABA usage at baseline (days -28 -0) will be compared with days 56 to 84. Forty participants (and their carers) and a range of health care professionals will also be invited to take part in an interview with a researcher to explore their experience of the study, the FanFIRST intervention and potential for scaled implementation across the NHS.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0180
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion