Breathlessness training: comparison of two programmes for Shortness Of Breath in Lung Cancer

Non-pharmacological management of breathlessness: a randomised controlled trial of different intensity training

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN62865905

Enrollment

Registered

2009-03-05

Start date

2007-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-04-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breathlessness in patients with intrathoracic malignancy Cancer Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs

Interventions

Low intensity training programme: Patients randomised to the low intensity arm will be taught four techniques of management of breathlessness at a single hour long session in a clinica

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Intractable breathlessness resulting from primary or secondary malignant lung disease in the palliative setting where the underlying cause has been maximally treated 2. All identified reversible causes of the breathlessness have been treated if appropriate to do so, in the opinion of the attending clinician 3. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) greater than 40% 4. Aged greater than 18 years, either sex 5. Willingness to attend for breathlessness training 6. Ability to give informed consent 7. Expected prognosis of at least 3 months in the opinion of the attending clinician

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Inability to give informed consent 2. Intercurrent illness or co-morbidities making completion of the physiotherapy breathlessness course (PBC) course unlikely 3. Rapidly worsening breathlessness requiring urgent medical intervention 4. Palliative radiotherapy to chest in previous 4 weeks 5. Radical radiotherapy in previous 6 months 6. Chemotherapy or change in anti-cancer hormone treatment in previous 2 weeks

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Recruitment, retention and variability of breathlessness severity (Numerical Rating Scale [NRS] worst breathlessness over last 24 hours)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. NRS average breathlessness over last 24 hours 2. NRS breathlessness "now" 3. NRS distress due to breathlessness 4. NRS coping with breathlessness 5. NRS satisfaction of care 6. Brief COPE 7. Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) 8. Euroqol EQ-5D (EQ-5D) 9. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026