EXploring patients Perceptions following an Acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to iNform tailoreD strategies to enhance Pulmonary Rehabilitation (EXPAND)

Prinicpal Investigator: Miss Samantha Harrison

Other Key staff: Dr. Noelle Robertson, Professor Sally Singh, Dr. Mick Steiner, Professor Mike Morgan, Johanna Williams, Chrissie Mitchell-Issitt, Lindsay Apps, Dr. Louise Sewell, Dr. Neil Greening, Dr. Graham Martin, Dr. John Bankart, Dr. Ruth Green, David Clarke.

Partners Involved: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, University of Leicester.

Summary:
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience an acute ‘flare up’ of their symptoms (often referred to as an exacerbation) which sometimes requires a hospital admission. Evidence strongly suggests that exacerbations cause a reduction in physical activity and an increase in the chance of a readmission to hospital. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) has been proven to be beneficial for patients with COPD and improves levels of physical activity. Few patients recently admitted to hospital with an exacerbation of COPD take up the offer of PR. The additional needs of patients following an exacerbation have not always been considered in PR. Perhaps psychological strategies will have a role in encouraging patients with COPD to attend PR following an exacerbation.

Aims:
The aim of this study is to gather information about patients’ beliefs surrounding their illness following a recent admission to hospital with an exacerbation of COPD. This information should help us to identify the kind of psychological support some patients need following an exacerbation of COPD in order to encourage them to attend PR.

The research questions underpinning the overall study aim are as follows:

• What are patients’ illness perceptions following hospitalisation with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE COPD) measured using the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire –Revised (IPQ-R)?
• How do patients perceive the experience of an AE COPD?
• How do patients perceive physical activity and PR following hospitalisation with an AE COPD?
• Can we identify clusters of patients with similar illness perceptions following hospitalisation with an AE COPD?
• Can we identify clusters of patients with similar illness perceptions which predict levels of physical activity and response to PR following an AE COPD?

Further Information:
If you would like more information or are interested in being involved please contact Miss Samantha Harrison

Start Date: 05/2011                                                                                                                                   Expected End Date: 04/2013

Project outcomes:
The data collected during this study could be used to identify patients who may benefit from psychological strategies designed to encourage attendance to PR. Furthermore, findings from this study will help to inform the content of these psychological strategies. Importantly we would seek to conduct a future pilot study to test the feasibility and effectiveness of such psychological strategies in relation to PR. Should such strategies be shown to increase the uptake of PR and prevent readmissions we would look to implement these strategies as standard care within the existing clinical service.