The Use of a Handheld Fan to Improve Breathlessness - a Feasibility Study to Assess Relief From Breathlessness After Five Minutes Use of a Handheld Fan Directed at the Cheeks
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 31
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Primary outcome measure is time in minutes for which breathlessness is improved after 5 minutes use of the fan directed at the face
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The aim of the study is to investigate if the use of a handheld fan directed to the cheeks alongside conventional medical treatment partially or totally relieves breathlessness and if this effect lasts for at least 30 minutes in patients irrespective of the underlying disease process.
Detailed Description
A previous randomised controlled trial (Galbraith et al, accepted for publication) has shown a reduction in breathlessness after 5 minutes use of a fan directed to the cheeks. This study is a feasibility study to determine how long this beneficial effect lasts.
With the patient in a relaxed sitting position and ensuring there is no other fan or open window blowing air onto the subject, the following will be explained to the patient and then measured and recorded
- Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for dyspnoea
- Visual analogue scale (VAS) for breathlessness with end anchors
- O2 saturation using pulse oximeter
- Pulse rate using pulse oximeter
- Room temperature and humidity recorded
The patients will be asked to avoid talking or significantly change position throughout the study.
Fan to cheeks The investigator will demonstrate to the patient how to use the handheld fan directed to the cheeks. The appropriate area on the face, which corresponds to the area innervated by 2nd and 3rd trigeminal nerve branches, will be demonstrated by the researcher. The patient will then use the fan as demonstrated and this will be timed for 5 minutes with the patient in a relaxed sitting position.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 30 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Any patient able and willing to cooperate with the study and who defines themselves as breathless at rest by answering 'yes' to the question, 'Do you currently feel short of breath?'
- •Any diagnosis causing breathlessness
- •Age >3 0years
Exclusion Criteria
- •Patients who have previously used a handheld fan to manage their breathlessness
- •Patients with fever >38 0C in last 24 hours
- •Patients on continuous oxygen
- •Patients requiring short burst oxygen therapy whilst completing the study
- •Patients with diseases or treatment affecting the trigeminal nerve supply.
- •Patients with other diseases which, in the opinion of the researcher or investigator, may affect the mechanism of action of the fan
- •Patients unable to understand or cooperate with study
- •Patients who do not wish to participate in the study
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Primary outcome measure is time in minutes for which breathlessness is improved after 5 minutes use of the fan directed at the face
Time Frame: 2 hours
Secondary Outcomes
- Relief from breathlessness noted on relief score after using the handheld fan(2 hours)
- Correlation between VAS and NRS scales(2 hours)
Investigators
Sarah Galbraith
Consultant in palliative medicine
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust