RecruitingInterventional

Feasibility of brief training to support pulmonary rehabilitation referral and attendance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This study focuses on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a lung condition that causes breathlessness. A treatment called pulmonary rehabilitation, which involves exercise and education, can greatly help. However, many people who could benefit don't get referred or attend. This study is testing if a new, short training program for healthcare staff can improve this. The training aims to help staff have better conversations with patients about pulmonary rehab, making it more likely patients will be referred and attend. We want to see if this new approach is practical and welcomed by both healthcare workers and people with COPD in the NHS.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Brunel University of London

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

What is this study about?

If you have a lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you might experience breathlessness. A proven way to help with this is a special exercise and education program called pulmonary rehabilitation, often just called 'rehab'. It can make a real difference to how you feel and your quality of life. However, even though it's very helpful, not enough people who could benefit from this rehab are currently referred to it or end up attending.

This study is looking for better ways to make sure more people with COPD can access pulmonary rehab. We've noticed that in the past, a simple, short conversation technique helped more smokers get support to quit. We believe a similar approach could work here. We've developed a new online training programme for healthcare professionals and a simple way for them to talk to patients about pulmonary rehab referrals. The idea is to make these conversations more effective and encourage more people with COPD to consider and attend rehab.

We're testing whether this new training and conversation approach works well within the NHS. We want to understand if it's easy for healthcare professionals to use and if patients find these conversations helpful. By doing this, we hope to find a practical way to help more people with COPD get the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Key takeaways

Study aims to improve access to pulmonary rehab for COPD patients.
Tests a new brief training for healthcare staff on discussing rehab.
Looks at if this new approach is practical and well-received.
Participation involves online training for staff, or discussing rehab for patients.
Potential benefits include better access to rehab and new staff training.
Managed possible risks of distress during study activities.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for two main groups of people to take part:

Firstly, **healthcare professionals** who typically refer patients to pulmonary rehabilitation services. This could be doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, or paramedics. They need to be able to give their agreement to take part in the study.

Secondly, **adults aged 18 or over who have been diagnosed with COPD** by a healthcare professional and who would normally be able to be referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. You'll need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part.

Quick self-check

Are you an adult (18 or older)?
Do you have a diagnosis of COPD from your doctor?
Are you able to agree to take part in a study?
Are you a healthcare professional who refers patients for pulmonary rehab?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you're a healthcare professional taking part in the main study, you'll complete an online training programme and use a new way of talking to patients about pulmonary rehab referrals. We'll then track how many referrals are made and if patients attend.

Some healthcare professionals and patients will also be asked to take part in extra parts of the study. This might involve having a conversation about pulmonary rehab audio-recorded, or talking to the study team on the phone about that conversation. Other participants might join small online group discussions to share their experiences of the training or the referral conversation. This helps us understand what people think about the new approach. You may be offered a £25 shopping voucher if you take part in these extra parts.

Potential risks and benefits

Healthcare professionals might benefit from this study by accessing new, free training that could help them in their role. Patients might find the new way of discussing pulmonary rehab more encouraging and feel more motivated to attend a helpful programme. There's a small chance participants might feel a bit distressed during study discussions; if this happens, we can pause or stop the activity and connect you with support if needed. Participating is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.

Locations (4)

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Uxbridge, England
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Truro, England
Leicester Royal Infirmary
Leicester, England
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, England

Common questions

What is COPD?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a condition that makes it hard to breathe, often causing breathlessness.

What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

It's an exercise and education programme designed to help people with lung conditions like COPD improve their fitness, manage breathlessness, and feel better.

Who is funding this study?

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Brunel University of London.

How long will the study run?

The study is expected to run from June 2026 to December 2027.

What if I take part and feel uncomfortable?

Your comfort is important. You can pause, stop, or withdraw from any study activity at any time if you feel distressed. The study team can also help you connect with other support.

How to find out more

Rachel Tuffnell

rachel.tuffnell@brunel.ac.uk +44 (0)7551 311641 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.