Protocol for a single-arm feasibility trial assessing home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Delhi, India
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Healthcare professionals, family caregivers and adults living with IPF will be recruited by the Metro Centre for Respiratory Diseases (MCRD). Due to the nature of this trial, the precise details and content of the home-based PR programme are unknown at this moment, as they will be heavily guided by the qualitative data collection within WP1. However, the intervention will comprise of the core elements of evidence-based rehabilitation, a programme of exercises and health education. Eligible participants will be informed verbally about the study by the PI and CRC. Literate participants will be asked to read the patient information sheet (PIS) about the study, written in English or translated in the local language. Illiterate participants will have the contents read out to them by a study staff member, in the presence of a witness who will be present during the whole process. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the PIS with the study medical personnel. Once the study staff is satisfied that the participant has understood the PIS, and is interested in taking part in the study, they will be taken through the informed consent process. Participants will give consent before undergoing screening tests and procedures. At the time of recruitment, the patient’s severity of illness will be examined by a qualified doctor and lung functions will be assessed using a portable spirometer. The original SPACE for COPD manual is divided into four stages and participants progress through the various educational topics. The manual currently contains educational material and a home exercise programme. Acquisition of skills is promoted through goal-setting strategies, coping planning and case studies. It incorporates an exercise regime that consists of a daily walking programme, and resistance training of the upper and lower limbs using free weights three times per week. The speed and duration of walking are prescribed based on results from the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (E
1. People eligible for inclusion in the home-based PR trial will be: 1.1. Aged ≥18 years 1.2. Confirmed diagnosis of IPF according to European Respiratory Society (ERS) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines 1.3. Willing to provide informed consent 2. Healthcare professionals who have at least 1 year of experience and work directly with IPF patients, including specialists, nurses and physiotherapists 3. Family caregivers who have and/or care for a family member diagnosed with IPF
Adults with comorbidities such as severe or unstable cardiovascular disease, other internal diseases and locomotor difficulties that preclude the exercise or malignant disease or other serious illness which will interfere with participation in the study, will be excluded. Individuals not eligible for the study will be recorded on a study screening log.