Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Conditions
Brief summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth most important cause of death worldwide and is one of the commonest non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nepal. The presence of risk factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution, the high prevalence of smoking and lack of general awareness of COPD makes it a serious public health concern. However, no attempt has been made in Nepal to estimate its burden and address the disease at the community level. This community-based cluster randomized controlled study aims to fulfil that gap through mobilization of Female Community Health Workers (FCHVs) who will be trained to perform a certain set of health promotion activities aimed at prevention of the disease and its progression. Baseline and follow-up surveys will be conducted to compare the intervention and control groups. This study has the potential to generate evidence in helping address NCDs in Nepal and also other similar resource-limited countries.
Interventions
Female Community Health Volunteer will visit selected households on average 3 times a year for providing health promotion messages on improving lung health status and avoiding risk factors to COPD.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Capable of performing spirometry * Aged greater than and equal to 40 years * Full time residents in the study area and will be in the study area for at least one year
Exclusion criteria
* Younger than 40 years of age * Self-reported pregnancy * having active pulmonary tuberculosis or being on medications for pulmonary tuberculosis * thoracic, abdominal or eye surgery in the last six months * History of Mental illness * MI in past 8 weeks prior to study * Hospital admission in the past six months for cardiac illness * Those who decline to provide consent to the study will be excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second | 1 year | Mean difference in FVE1 between intervention and control arm |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Proportion of risk factors of COPD between intervention and control arm | 1 year |
Countries
Denmark