MedPath

Holistic Wellbeing in COPD: Communication About Sexuality (COSY)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Lung Diseases, Obstructive
Chronic Disease
Respiratory Disease
Interventions
Other: Communication intervention about sexuality in people with COPD
Registration Number
NCT05696730
Lead Sponsor
University of Zurich
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a communication intervention about sexuality on quality of life and other outcomes like physical activity, exercise capacity and health status in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Detailed Description

Human sexuality is a universal part of living and associated with quality of life and mental and physical health benefits. Improved sexual relationships and sexual activity might also be an intrinsic motivator to stay physically active. However, problems with sexuality and loss of sexual drive are common in older and chronically ill people like persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In persons with COPD sexuality is rarely addressed during medical consultations and the topic is not sufficiently researched despite the fact that a thorough assessment of quality of life is incomplete without considering sexuality.

Based on this background, the investigators developed an instrument that supports healthcare professionals to start and shape communication about sexuality: COSY. The COSY intervention consists of four tools (communication leaflet for health care professionals, application guidance, pictorial representation of the spectrum of intimacy for health care professionals, patient information booklet) and aims to sensitize persons with COPD with the topic sexuality.

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the COSY communication intervention on quality of life and other outcomes like physical activity, exercise capacity and health status in people with COPD.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥60 years
  • Diagnosis of COPD, defined as forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)<70% predicted, FEV1<80 % predicted after bronchodilation corresponding to a Global initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage II-IV
  • Knowledge of German language to understand study material and assessments and being able to give informed consent as documented by signature
Exclusion Criteria
  • Unstable COPD at the time of recruitment, unstable cardiovascular comorbidities, severe depression, or predicted life expectancy of less than one year, as judged by the referring clinician or the intervention physician

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Communication intervention about sexuality in people with COPDCommunication intervention about sexuality in people with COPDCommunication intervention. Individual counselling to improve holistic well-being by addressing sexuality and to increase adherence for long-term physical activity given the correlation with sexual activity.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life in old age (CASP-12)Change from baseline to 3 months

The CASP is a validated measure developed specifically to assess quality of life in old age by the total score of the CASP-12 (Control, Autonomy, Self-realization and Pleasure) german short-version of the CASP-19 scale; 12 questions; 4-point Likert-type-scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (often)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Functional exercise capacity (1-min Sit-to-Stand [STS] test)Change from baseline to 3 months

The 1-min STS test assesses the number of repetitions that the patient completes the full sit-to-stand movement from a standard chair (i.e. standing up from a chair and sitting down again) during one minute

COPD-specific health-related quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaires [CRQ] Subscales)Change from baseline to 3 months

The CRQ is a validated tool to assess COPD-specific health-related quality of life with four domains: Dyspnea, fatigue, emotional function, mastery domain. The total CRQ contains 20 questions responded to on a 7-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 to 7 with lower scores indicating worse HRQoL

Physical activity (PROactive physical activity in COPD instrument, clinical visit version [C-PPAC]; domains amount and difficulty)Change from baseline to 3 months, measured during 1 week

The C-PPAC is a validated and reliable hybrid tool combining a short patient-reported outcome questionnaire and two activity monitor variables (assessed by the accelerometer ActiGraph®) to measure physical activity in COPD patients in the two domains amount and difficulty; 12 questions; 5-point Likert-type-scale (item scores 0-4, scale 0-100, higher socres indicating higher amonunt of/less difficulty with physical activity)

COPD-specific health status / Symptoms (COPD Assessment Test; CAT)Change from baseline to 3 months

The CAT measures the impact of COPD on a person's health status, covering the most burdensome symptoms and limitations of COPD; 8 questions; 6-point Likert-type scale (item scores: 0-5, overall score 0-40 with higher score indicating poorer health status)

Health status (Feeling Thermometer; FT)Change from baseline to 3 months

The FT is a visual analogue scale for overall health state ranging from 0 (worst health you can imagine) to 100 (best healthy you can imagine)

Exacerbations of COPD (event based, patient reported)At 3-months follow-up assessment visit

The event-based definition required an increase in symptoms and an increase in dosage of or new prescription of systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics

Symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS)Change from baseline to 3 months

The HADS assesses symptoms of anxiety and depression and contains 14 questions responded to on a 4-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 to 3 with higher scores indicating a higher symptom score

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Zurich / Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute

🇨🇭

Zurich, Switzerland

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath