RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06046547

Integrating Palliative Care Education in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Sponsor

Aveiro University

Enrollment

58 participants

Start Date

Sep 1, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Interstitial Lung Disease

Summary

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) imposes enormous daily challenges, especially at advanced stages, not just to patients but also to informal caregivers. Their needs are not fully addressed by disease-modifying treatments. A key strategy to improve their well-being is the early integration of palliative care into routine management of COPD and ILD. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), one of the most well-established and cost-effective interventions in chronic respiratory diseases may be a suitable venue for this approach. The main goal of this randomised controlled study is to explore the effects of palliative care education as part of PR in people with COPD or ILD and informal caregivers. The primary question to be addressed is: "Does integrating education about palliative care in PR improve knowledge on this subject?". The investigators will compare PR with palliative care education (experimental) with traditional PR (control) in people with COPD or ILD and informal caregivers. The intervention will include an education session about palliative care, a "Peer-to-peer session", a "Get-apart session" and online sessions. A mixed-methods approach will be used to evaluate the outcomes. This study will provide an evidence-based insight into personalised PR with palliative care education for people with COPD or ILD and informal caregivers.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study looks at whether adding education about palliative care (comfort-focused care and planning for the future) into a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program improves outcomes for people with COPD or interstitial lung disease (ILD) and their caregivers. **You may be eligible if...** - You have been diagnosed with COPD or ILD - Your condition has been stable for the past month (no recent flare-ups) - You are about to start a pulmonary rehabilitation program - Caregivers of people with COPD or ILD are also eligible to participate **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have a physical, neurological, or psychiatric condition that prevents exercising in a rehab program - You attended a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the last 6 months - You have already been receiving specialist palliative care in the last 12 months - You are unable to understand Portuguese (study is conducted in Portugal) Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

OTHERPulmonary rehabilitation integrating education about palliative care

PR will include exercise training twice a week, and education and psychosocial support once per week during 12 weeks. The intervention will include an education session on palliative care, a "Peer-to-peer session", a "Get-apart session" and online sessions. The education session on palliative care will be facilitated by two specialist healthcare professionals. The main topics that will be discussed are: concept of palliative care, symptom control, disease impact, psychosocial support and planning for the future. Participants will be the primary communicators in the "Peer-to-peer session", and the dialogue will be based on their suggestions. Those who feel more reluctant to reveal private thoughts in front of their loved ones will have the opportunity to discuss their issues in a "Get-apart" environment. Individual cases will be referred to a specialist palliative care team or to any other health/social care professional according to the unmet needs identified.

OTHERPulmonary rehabilitation

Participants will receive the same PR program as the experimental group besides the education session on palliative care, the "Peer-to-peer session", the "Get-apart session" and the online sessions (i.e. traditional pulmonary rehabilitation).