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The hand-held fan & the Calming Hand for people with chronic breathlessness: a feasibility trial

Swan, Flavia; Johnson, Miriam

Authors

Profile image of Flavia Swan

Dr Flavia Swan F.Swan@hull.ac.uk
Research fellow in cancer rehabilitation



Abstract

Introduction: The battery operated hand-held fan (“fan”) and the Calming Hand (CH), a cognitive strategy, may be helpful for chronic breathlessness.
Objective: To test the feasibility of a phase III randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the impact of the fan and/or CH compared with exercise advice alone for the relief of chronic breathlessness due to respiratory conditions.
Methods: Single site, feasibility “2x2” factorial, non-blinded, mixed-methods RCT. Participants randomly allocated to four groups: fan + exercise advice vs CH + exercise advice vs fan + CH + exercise advice vs exercise advice alone. Measures included: recruitment, acceptability; data quality and study outcomes (baseline, day 28); modified incremental shuttle walk test (mISWT), recovery time from exertion-induced breathlessness, Life-space, General Self-Efficacy Scale and breathlessness numerical rating scales. Willing participants and carers were interviewed at study end.
Results: Recruitment/acceptability/data quality: 53 people were screened, 40 randomised and completed; (mean age 72 years (SD 9.8), 70% male). There were few missing data (2 mISWT). Recovery time [seconds] from exertion-induced breathlessness showed most improvement for the fan; mean reduction from baseline -33.5 vs CH mean increase from baseline 5.7. This represents a recovery speed at day 28 -20.4% faster for the fan vs 4.1% slower for the CH.
Qualitative data indicated participants valued the faster recovery and identified the fan as a useful “medical” device, but found the CH unhelpful.
Conclusion: A phase III RCT is feasible. Mixed-method data synthesis supports recovery time as a novel, meaningful outcome measure.

Citation

Swan, F., & Johnson, M. (2017, September). The hand-held fan & the Calming Hand for people with chronic breathlessness: a feasibility trial. Presented at ERS International Congress 2017, Milan, Italy

Presentation Conference Type Conference Abstract
Conference Name ERS International Congress 2017
Start Date Sep 9, 2017
End Date Sep 13, 2017
Online Publication Date Dec 6, 2017
Publication Date 2017
Deposit Date Apr 14, 2020
Publicly Available Date Sep 24, 2024
Print ISSN 0903-1936
Electronic ISSN 1399-3003
Publisher European Respiratory Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 50
Issue suppl 61
Article Number PA749
DOI https://doi.org/10.1183/1393003.congress-2017.pa749
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1226710
External URL https://old.erscongress.org/about-ers-2017.html