Is it possible to introduce a palliative care approach to primary care clinics to improve the quality of life of patients with chronic lung disease in South Africa?

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Chronic lung disease; Respiratory

• Registration Number: ISRCTN44976471
• Lead Sponsor: ational Institute for Health Research

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2020-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 3 May 2021
• Study Completion: 2022-01-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Ongoing
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 105

Inclusion Criteria

Patients:
1. Adults (aged at least 18 years) attending primary care with diagnosed COPD or chronic lung disease (CLD) on the basis of the likely aetiological determinants in South Africa, namely cigarette or other smoking history, biomass fuel smoke exposure, history of previous pulmonary tuberculosis or other respiratory infections and occupational dust exposure
2. Eligible for palliative care on the basis of disease severity, with at least one of the following:
2.1.Breathless at rest or on minimal exertion
2.2. On home oxygen
2.3. Three or more hospital admissions in the last year
2.4. More than three emergency centre (EC) visits in the last month
2.5. Karnofsky Performance Status of 50 or less
2.6. Dependence on others for activities of daily living (ADLs)
3. Able to communicate in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa
4. Able to give informed consent

Family members/caregivers:
1. Primary caregiver to be identified by the patient, in line with the definition of caregiver: Unpaid, informal providers of one or more physical, social, practical and emotional tasks. In terms of their relationship to the patient, they may be a friend, partner, ex-partner, sibling, parent, child or other blood or non-blood relative.
2. Adult aged at least 18 years
3. Able to communicate in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa
4. Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Patients:
1. Housebound and unable to attend primary care
2. Unable to give informed consent due to loss of capacity
3. Unable to communicate in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa
4. Asthma

Caregivers:
1. Paid caregivers such as nurses or social workers
2. Aged under 18 years
3. Not involved in day-to-day care for the COPD or CLD patient

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified