Support Groups for Bronchiectasis

(BronchConnect Trial)

Overseen By Natalie Stumpf, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Cystic fibrosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Transplant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine how joining a support group can benefit people with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE), a chronic lung condition that causes coughing, breathlessness, and frequent infections. The study will measure changes in quality of life and anxiety levels for participants attending virtual support group sessions. Researchers aim to discover if support groups can improve life for those with NCFBE, similar to their benefits for other lung diseases. Suitable candidates will have a CT scan showing bronchiectasis as their main lung issue. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore new ways to enhance well-being for those with NCFBE.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on support groups rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that support groups are safe for individuals with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis?

Research has shown that support groups can improve the quality of life for individuals with lung diseases such as interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, limited information exists on how these groups benefit those with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE).

Support groups are generally very safe, emphasizing conversation and shared experiences rather than medication or medical procedures. No reports indicate harm from joining a support group for lung conditions. Although the specific effects on NCFBE are still being studied, joining a support group is considered safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using support groups for managing bronchiectasis because this approach tackles the emotional and social aspects of the condition, which are often overlooked by traditional treatments like antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, and bronchodilators. Unlike medication, support groups offer a platform for patients to share experiences, learn from each other, and build a community, potentially improving mental health and quality of life. By focusing on the holistic well-being of patients, support groups aim to empower individuals, encouraging them to better manage their condition through shared knowledge and emotional support.

What evidence suggests that support groups are effective for improving quality of life in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis?

Research has shown that joining support groups can improve the quality of life for people with lung diseases such as interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although limited data exists specifically for noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE), support groups are known to reduce anxiety and uncertainty, common issues in NCFBE. This trial will evaluate the impact of support groups on individuals with NCFBE. The researchers expect that support groups will help participants feel better about their health and manage their condition more effectively. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Shoshana Zha, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis confirmed by a CT chest scan, where it's the main lung issue. Participants must be able to give informed consent and speak English well enough to have full conversations.

Inclusion Criteria

My main lung problem is bronchiectasis.

Diagnosis of bronchiectasis on computed tomography (CT) chest scan

Exclusion Criteria

I have received an organ transplant.

I am under 18 years old.

I have cystic fibrosis.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline questionnaires and assessments for severity of disease, comorbidities, and exacerbations

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants attend virtual support group sessions and multidisciplinary educational programs

12 months

Regular virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in quality of life, anxiety, and exacerbation rates through questionnaires and clinical assessments

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Support Group

Trial Overview

The study examines how joining a virtual support group affects life quality and anxiety in people with NCFBE. It measures changes through questionnaires and checks if their condition gets worse less often.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Support Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Non-randomized pre-post trial, in which each participant will serve as their own control. Participants will be recruited from a bronchiectasis specialty clinic.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Self-management programs for bronchiectasis, particularly those combining education with action planning, airway clearance techniques, and exercise, can significantly enhance patients' self-efficacy and quality of life, as identified through a systematic review of eight studies.

The effectiveness of these programs is influenced by patient characteristics and the collaborative relationship between patients and healthcare professionals, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches in managing bronchiectasis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-management programmes for adult patients with bronchiectasis: a systematic review and realist synthesis. Tsang, A., Lynes, D., McKenzie, H., et al.[2023]

In a study of 116 patients with bronchiectasis followed for an average of 14 years, the overall prognosis was good, with 30% showing improvement in symptoms and 77% maintaining a good work record despite the condition.

However, 7% of patients experienced severe disability, and social issues persisted, with many spouses reporting challenges related to the patient's cough and sexual life, highlighting the need for ongoing support for affected individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Present outlook in bronchiectasis: clinical and social study and review of factors influencing prognosis. Ellis, DA., Thornley, PE., Wightman, AJ., et al.[2019]

A study involving adults with bronchiectasis revealed that treatment adherence is influenced by patients' beliefs about their treatment, practical management aspects, trust in healthcare professionals, and their acceptance of the disease.

The research developed a conceptual model showing that adherence decisions are shaped by a balance of individual barriers and motivating factors, suggesting that personalized strategies could improve adherence to treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'All illness is personal to that individual': a qualitative study of patients' perspectives on treatment adherence in bronchiectasis. McCullough, AR., Tunney, MM., Elborn, JS., et al.[2023]

Bronchiectasis (BE) is a growing global health issue characterized by airway dilation and persistent infections, leading to significant impacts on patients' quality of life, yet treatment guidelines are based on limited high-quality evidence.

Experts identified critical unmet needs in BE management, including the need for better pharmacological treatments to clear airways and reduce inflammation, improved methods for classifying patients, and the establishment of clinical endpoints for future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards development of evidence to inform recommendations for the evaluation and management of bronchiectasis. Flume, PA., Basavaraj, A., Garcia, B., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 3106 hospitalized children, the Patient and Family Centered I-PASS intervention significantly reduced adverse events (AEs) in children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) by 50%.

However, the intervention did not show a statistically significant impact on AE rates for children without CCCs, indicating that the benefits of PFC I-PASS may be more pronounced in those with more complex health needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Patient and Family Centered I-PASS on adverse event rates in hospitalized children with complex chronic conditions. Kuzma, N., Khan, A., Rickey, L., et al.[2023]

The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) has significantly expanded from 49 adverse events (AEs) in version 1.0 to 790 AEs in version 4.0, which allows for more detailed reporting but also introduces complexity in AE identification.

Different approaches by clinical research assistants (CRAs) in reporting AEs led to inconsistencies, with only about 65% of AEs being conclusively graded in later versions, highlighting the need for standardized practices to improve accuracy in AE reporting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unintended consequences of evolution of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Miller, TP., Fisher, BT., Getz, KD., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of two studies involving 84 participants found insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of self-management interventions for improving health-related quality of life in individuals with bronchiectasis, as measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire.

One study noted a higher number of deaths in the intervention group compared to the control group, but due to the small sample size, this finding is not conclusive, highlighting the need for more robust research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-management for bronchiectasis. Kelly, C., Grundy, S., Lynes, D., et al.[2022]

The 'Buddy Study' program, which includes a seminar and peer support for healthcare professionals after adverse events, received positive feedback from participants, with 91.6% satisfied with the seminar content and 69.1% feeling it helped them manage their emotional responses.

The program fostered a compassionate culture and attentiveness to colleagues' wellbeing, although it highlighted the need for ongoing support and visibility to maintain its effectiveness, suggesting that while valuable, peer support should complement other forms of support rather than replace them.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of'the Buddy Study', a peer support program for second victims in healthcare: a survey in two Danish hospital departments. Schrøder, K., Bovil, T., Jørgensen, JS., et al.[2022]

In a study of 77 patients with bronchiectasis not due to cystic fibrosis, inhaled budesonide did not show significant improvements in lung function compared to placebo over six months, indicating limited efficacy in this regard.

However, the budesonide group exhibited a tendency towards improvement in symptoms and quality of life, along with a significant reduction in sputum eosinophils, suggesting potential benefits that warrant further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Budesonide efficacy and safety in patients with bronchiectasis not due to cystic fibrosis. Hernando, R., Drobnic, ME., Cruz, MJ., et al.[2022]

In a study of 95 adult patients with bronchiectasis, frequent exacerbations (≥3 per year) and high disease severity scores were identified as major risk factors for poor quality of life, indicating that managing exacerbations could improve patient outcomes.

The study found that physical capacity, as measured by the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale, was negatively correlated with quality of life, suggesting that addressing dyspnoea and disease severity may enhance the overall well-being of patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In bronchiectasis, poor physical capacity correlates with poor quality of life. Mäntylä, J., Mazur, W., Törölä, T., et al.[2022]

In a study of 92 patients with bronchiectasis who underwent surgical resection, surgery resulted in a low mortality rate of 1% and a morbidity rate of 16%, indicating it is a safe option for treatment.

After surgery, 84% of patients were asymptomatic, demonstrating that surgical intervention can lead to significant clinical improvement in selected patients with bronchiectasis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Surgical management of bronchiectasis: the indications and outcomes. Gursoy, S., Ozturk, AA., Ucvet, A., et al.[2021]

Industry-sponsored program reports in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System were associated with a higher percentage of serious outcomes compared to non-industry-sponsored reports (58.8% vs. 51.4%), indicating they may capture more severe adverse events.

Despite containing more data elements, the overall usefulness of industry-sponsored and non-industry-sponsored reports for safety signal detection was similar, with only a small percentage of reports (4% for non-industry and 6.2% for industry) identifying serious, unlabeled adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Postmarketing Reports from Industry-Sponsored Programs in Drug Safety Surveillance. Harinstein, L., Kalra, D., Kortepeter, CM., et al.[2020]

A systematic review of 119 studies on stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) revealed that adverse events (AEs) were inconsistently reported, with 94.12% of studies documenting grade 3 AEs and 92.44% reporting grade 4 AEs, but only 53.78% and 63.03% for grade 1 and 2 AEs, respectively.

In studies involving surgical procedures, AEs were often underreported, with 10 out of 31 surgical treatment arms not mentioning any AEs, highlighting a significant gap in patient-relevant information that could impact treatment decision-making.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events reporting in stage III NSCLC trials investigating surgery and radiotherapy. Iseli, T., Berghmans, T., Glatzer, M., et al.[2022]

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