Investigating outcome measures for trials of airway clearance techniques in adults with cystic fibrosis
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11220163 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11220163 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 31428 |
- Submission date
- 19/09/2016
- Registration date
- 19/09/2016
- Last edited
- 01/08/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Respiratory
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition which causes the lungs and digestive system to become blocked with mucus. It is caused by a faulty gene, which is responsible for controlling the movement of water and salts in and out of cells. This leads to a buildup of sticky mucus which clogs the lungs and airways causing breathing difficulties and lung infections, and the digestive system which affects the way food travels through and the ability to absorb nutrients from it. Most people with CF experience problems with lung function and usually recommended to complete chest physiotherapy (also known as airway clearance techniques) as part of their daily routine. Traditionally the effect of these techniques, clinically and in research, have been assessed by how each patient feels during and after completing the technique, alongside changes in lung function (using a test called FEV 1, which tests how much air a person can exhale in one second), amount of sputum cleared (a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up) and oxygen saturations (the amount of oxygen circulating around the body). Although these tests have been used historically, there is now some debate about whether they are the best measure to actually show the effect of airway clearance. Recent technological developments have seen some new tests developed which may give a more detailed picture into the short term effects of airway clearance techniques. The aim of this study is to compare the traditional measures of sputum cleared, FEV1 and oxygen saturations with these new tests.
Who can participate?
Patients with CF who are 16 years or over and who are registered as patients of the Royal Brompton Hospital.
What does the study involve?
The study involves attending two study visits in a random order. One study visit involves completing a maximum of 60 minutes chest physiotherapy using a breathing technique called Active Cycle of Breathing (ACBT), which involves normal relaxed breathing, deep breathing and huffs to clear sputum. The other study visit involves 60 minutes of rest in a comfortable position. Before and after the physiotherapy or rest, participants complete the traditional and new tests. These include:
1. Lung function (also called spirometry): the technique involves taking a deep breath and then blowing out through the machine as hard as possible for as long as possible
2. Lung clearance index (LCI): a technique which involves breathing quietly through a tube whilst wearing nose clips
3. Impulse oscillation system: a non-invasive technique where you breathe normally through a mouthpiece whilst wearing a nose clip, into a machine which produces small pressure vibrations (oscillations)
4. Oxygen saturation monitoring: completed by wearing a probe on a finger throughout the session.
5. Sputum collection: clearing any sputum created during the session into a special pot which is weighed at the end of the session and will then discarded appropriately
6. Electrical impedance tomography: involves wearing a belt around the chest which has electrodes attached to it
7. Participant questionnaire: asks the participants views on the tests completed during the visit
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants benefit from being taught airway clearance techniques that they may wish to use in the future. There are no notable risks involved with participating.
Where is the study run from?
Royal Brompton Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2016 to October 2021
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mrs Gemma Stanford
g.stanford@rbht.nhs.uk
Contact information
Public
Research Fellows Office
Dept of Cystic Fibrosis
South Parade
Royal Brompton Hospital
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-6967-6883 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 20 7352 8121 ext 4028 |
| g.stanford@rbht.nhs.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Education or Self-Management, Physical, Management of Care |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised cross over trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Improving outcome measures for physiotherapy trials of airway clearance in adults with cystic fibrosis |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to compare historical outcome measures (sputum weight and forced expiratory volume in 1 second) for airway clearance techniques with new measures (electrical impedance tomography, lung clearance index, impulse oscillometry) to find out whether there is a more scientific measure of ACT effect. |
| Ethics approval(s) | London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee, 18/07/2016, ref: 16/LO/0995 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Cystic fibrosis |
| Intervention | Participants are randomised to one of two groups using a computerised randomisation programme, which means they attend two study visits in a random order. The visits take place up to 1 month apart. Study visit 1: Participants complete the airway clearance technique the Active Cycle of Breathing (ACBT) for a maximum of 60 minutes. ACBT is a breathing technique which includes normal relaxed breathing, deep breathing and huffs to clear sputum. Participants will be fully taught this by a specialist CF physiotherapist. Study visit 2: Participants undergo up to 60 minutes of rest, in which they sit in a comfortable position and can complete any tasks which are non-active (such as reading/using internet etc.) The length of the ACT and rest periods will be pre-defined by the individual participants usual airway clearance regime and will be in-between 30 and 60 minutes, with both periods in both study visits matched. Before and after the physiotherapy or rest period, participants undergo the outcome measures of spirometry, LCI and IOS. During the session they will undergo EIT monitoring via an electrode belt round their chest, oxygen saturation monitoring via a finger probe and will be asked to spit any sputum cleared into a special pot which will be weighed after the period ends. At the end of each study visit the participant will be asked to complete a questionnaire asking their opinions of the outcome tests completed. There is no additional follow up following the end of the second study visit. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is measured using spirometry immediately before and after the trial condition on each study visit 2. Lung clearance index (LCI) is measured using a multiple breath washout test immediately before and after the trial condition on each study visit 3. Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) is measured by a relaxed breathing test immediately before and after the trial condition on each study visit 4. Sputum weight is measured by weighing the amount of sputum expectorated during the treatment session immediately after the trial condition on each study visit 5. Electronic impedance tomography is measured during the treatment via an electrode belt around the chest, with measurements before, after and during the trial condition on each study visit |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Patient opinion of the outcome measure tests are measured using a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study at the end of each study visit 2. Lung function tests (FVC, FEF 25, FEF 50, FEF 75) are completed using a spirometer before and after the trial condition in each study visit 3. Oxygen saturation is measured via a finger probe during the trial condition on each study visit |
| Overall study start date | 01/09/2013 |
| Completion date | 31/10/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 16 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 106; UK Sample Size: 106 |
| Total final enrolment | 68 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis (confirmed by standard criteria) 2. Aged 16 years or over 3. Registered as patients of the Royal Brompton Hospital |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Evidence of pulmonary exacerbation within 3 weeks prior to screening 2. Any change in a chronic treatment/prophylaxis regimen for CF or CF-related condition within 4 weeks of visit Current infective exacerbation or reduction in lung function requiring therapeutic intervention 3. Current moderate haemoptysis (greater than streaking in the sputum) 4. Current dependency on positive pressure support with ACT Previous history of spontaneous rib fractures 5. Pregnancy Inability to give consent for treatment or measurement 6. Current dependency upon non-invasive ventilation Current dependency upon oxygen therapy |
| Date of first enrolment | 26/09/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/04/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
Royal Brompton Hospital
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
England
United Kingdom
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/02218z997 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/06/2023 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Current publication and dissemination plan as of 13/03/2023: Plan to publish results in an international journal by Summer 2023. Results publicised via abstract presented at the North American CF Conference in November 2022. Letter to all participants sent in early 2023. _____ Previous publication and dissemination plan as of 21/04/2022: Plan to publish results in an international journal by December 2022. Other dissemination would be at international cystic fibrosis conferences in 2022. Dissemination to participants via a letter, and dissemination to wider patient population via department website and trust research publications. _____ Previous publication and dissemination plan: Plan to publish results in an international journal in December 2020. Other dissemination would be at international cystic fibrosis conferences in 2019 or 2020. Dissemination to participants via a letter, and dissemination to wider patient population via department website and trust research publications. |
| IPD sharing plan | The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 01/10/2020 | 08/10/2020 | Yes | No |
| HRA research summary | 26/07/2023 | No | No | ||
| Abstract results | Presented at North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference | 01/10/2022 | 01/08/2023 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
01/08/2023: Abstract reference added.
13/03/2023: The following changes have been made:
1. The publication and dissemination plan has been updated.
2. The intention to publish date has been changed from 01/03/2023 to 01/06/2023.
08/12/2022: The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2022 to 01/03/2023.
21/04/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The total final enrolment number has been added.
2. The publication and dissemination plan has been updated.
3. The intention to publish date has been changed from 30/04/2022 to 31/12/2022.
12/07/2021: The overall trial end date was changed from 31/12/2020 to 31/10/2021.
20/11/2020: The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2020 to 30/04/2022.
08/10/2020: Publication reference added.
17/06/2019: Internal review
28/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Respiratory disorders, Primary sub-specialty: Respiratory disorders; UKCRC code/ Disease: Congenital Disorders/ Other congenital malformations" to "Cystic fibrosis" following a request from the NIHR.
