The SPACE-COPD Study -A self-management programme for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):  is it effective in primary care?

Principal Investigator: Professor Sally Singh

Other key staff: Professor Michael Morgan, Dr Michael Steiner, Professor Julie Barlow, Dr John Bankart, Professor Andrew Wilson and Mr Matthew Jones

Partners involved: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, NHS Leicester City, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland and Coventry Teaching PCT

Summary: 1.5% of the population have a confirmed diagnosis of COPD. The disability associated with COPD is significant, for both the individual and society. The individual with COPD frequently become trapped in a vicious cycle of inactivity, social isolation and depression, disabling breathlessness most frequently instigates this decline. There is overwhelming scientific evidence to support the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with moderate to severe disease. In the UK this is most frequently offered as 6-8 week out-patient based course, usually in the hospital.

Over the last few years we have developed a self-management manual, with input from patients with COPD.  The manual covers issues such as drug and symptom management, exercise and nutrition at home.

The study aims to recruit 184 patients to test the manual against usual GP care. Measures of lung function, exercise capacity, information needs and health status will be collected. If randomised to the self-management programme patients will be introduced to the manual, and their exercise training programme defined.

Aims:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of self-managed rehabilitation compared to usual GP care using quantitative and qualitative measures
• To determine the acceptability of self-management in COPD

Further information: The initial development of the manual was supported and reviewed by patients with COPD. During the study period 15 interviews will be carried out with patients that have used the manual following their 6 week assessment. This information will be analysed and feedback will be used to inform future development of the programme. The research team have well established links with the Breath Easy Group which are an on-going source of patient involvement. The research team meets regularly to discuss new strategies for patient representation which will be considered for the latter stages of the study.If you would like to be involved in this study, or for more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Start date: 12/2009                                                                             Expected end date: 03/2013

Study outcomes:

• The primary outcome measure is the dyspnoea component of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire at 6 months after introduction to the manual compared to the usual care group
• Secondary outcomes include other components of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, information needs, physical activity and exercise performance

If successful, the manual would give help and advice to manage COPD without patients needing to travel to hospital, therefore could potentially widen access to self-management/ rehabilitation services for all of the United Kingdom.