What is the best treatment and the most cost effective treatment for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): advice on breathlessness, or advice on breathlessness and oxygen to use whilst walking and doing other daily activities at home?

You may be able to join this study if you are 18 or older and have a confirmed medical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from a specialist NHS lung team. You should experience noticeable breathlessness during daily tasks, such as when walking up a gentle hill, and you must be able to complete a simple walking or sitting-to-standing exercise test.

You will not be able to take part if you already need continuous oxygen while resting at home, or if you have had severe breathing complications in the past that required breathing machine support. The study is also not suitable for people who are currently on the waiting list for a lung transplant, or those who cannot safely manage oxygen equipment at home.

Taking part in the study lasts for about six months. If you join, a computer will place you by chance into one of two groups. One group receives written advice on managing breathlessness. The other group receives the same advice plus portable oxygen cylinders delivered to their home to use when active.

You will need to attend three main hospital visits: at the start of the study, at three months, and at six months. During these visits, the research team will measure your breathing, activity levels, and symptoms. You will also fill in questionnaires about your daily life, which you can complete at the clinic or post back from home. If you are given oxygen, the team will call you during the first week to make sure you feel confident using the equipment. A small number of participants may also be invited to a one-hour chat to share their personal thoughts on living with IPF.