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A single blind randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness and cost utility of manual chest physiotherapy techniques in the management of infective exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Completed
Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Respiratory
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Registration Number
ISRCTN13825248
Lead Sponsor
niversity of East Anglia (UK)
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Completed
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
550
Inclusion Criteria

Patients admitted to participating hospitals with infective exacerbations of COPD.

Inclusion Criteria:
1. Diagnosis of COPD as defined by the British Thoracic Society; namely
a. A forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) of <80% of the predicted value, which is predominantly irreversible
b. Signs and symptoms of cough, breathlessness and +/- wheeze
c. In more severe disease there may be cyanosis and peripheral oedema

2. An infective exacerbation as set out by the British Thoracic Society; namely
a. A worsening of previous stable condition, a new respiratory event or complication imposed upon established COPD
b. Signs and symptoms of increased wheeze, dyspnoea, sputum volume and purulence, chest tightness and fluid retention

Exclusion Criteria

1. Cognitive impairment, rendering patients unable to give fully informed consent

2. Contraindications to the use of manual techniques; namely
a. Osteoporosis
b. Frank haemoptysis
c. Bronchial hyper-reactivity
d. Known respiratory system malignancy

3. No evidence of excess sputum production after examination (i.e. the patient does not report excess secretions and no signs of excess secretions on auscultation)

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of Life (St George?s Respiratory Questionnaire) at baseline, six weeks, three months, six months and one year post intervention.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life, breathlessness and exercise tolerance:<br>1. Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale (QOL) <br>2. EuroQol five dimensional instrument (EQ-5D)<br>3. Sputum volume and oxygen saturation during hospitalisation<br>4. Total number of days spent in hospital during 12 months period<br>5. Marginal cost-utility ratio for manual versus no manual chest physiotherapy
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