Paramedic Evaluation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

(PEACE Trial)

Overseen By Laurel O'Connor, MD, MSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: No COPD, Under 18, Pregnancy, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new program to help individuals with moderate to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) manage sudden symptom worsening at home. The program, called Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD Exacerbation, involves specially trained paramedics visiting patients' homes to provide care, aiming to reduce emergency visits and hospital stays. The trial evaluates the practicality and effectiveness of this approach by collecting feedback from patients and healthcare providers. Individuals who have had at least one emergency visit due to COPD in the past six months and live within the UMass Memorial Medical Center's service area might be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers patients the chance to contribute to innovative care solutions that could enhance COPD management at home.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that the PEACE program is safe for COPD patients?

Research has shown that programs like the PEACE intervention are generally safe for patients. One study of community-based digital health programs found that patients with moderate to severe COPD who received similar home care experienced positive results. This care involved paramedics using mobile tools and medications, with doctors providing support through telehealth. No major safety issues were reported.

These findings suggest that the PEACE program, which also involves paramedics visiting patients at home, is likely to be well-received. Although specific data for the PEACE program is not yet available, the safety of similar programs indicates it could be a promising way to manage COPD symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Paramedic Evaluation for acute COPD Exacerbation (PEACE) because it introduces a potentially game-changing approach to managing COPD flare-ups. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on hospital-based interventions and medications like bronchodilators and corticosteroids, PEACE focuses on early intervention by paramedics. This method aims to provide timely and precise care right at the scene, which could reduce the need for hospitalizations and improve outcomes for patients. By empowering paramedics with specialized training and protocols, this approach could lead to faster, more effective management of acute exacerbations, potentially transforming emergency care for COPD patients.

What evidence suggests that the PEACE program is effective for COPD?

Research has shown that early treatment of COPD flare-ups can prevent hospital visits and improve patients' quality of life. In this trial, the PEACE program, a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) initiative, employs specially trained paramedics to provide home care. This approach aims to quickly address worsening symptoms and reduce the need for emergency care. Early findings suggest that regular check-ups and prompt treatment can significantly reduce the pressure on emergency services. By receiving care quickly, patients may avoid hospital trips and manage their COPD symptoms more effectively. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Laurel O'Connor, MD, MSc

Principal Investigator

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with COPD who've had at least one flare-up needing emergency care in the last six months. They must have a specific severity score (GOLD B, C, or D), get care at certain clinics, speak English, and live where the UMass Memorial Medical Center MIH Program operates.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with COPD.

I had a COPD flare-up that required an emergency visit in the last 6 months.

My COPD is classified as moderate to very severe.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Implementation

Implementation and refinement of the PEACE intervention for home-based evaluation and treatment of COPD exacerbation

12 months

On-demand visits by community paramedics

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Paramedic Evaluation for acute COPD Exacerbation

Trial Overview

The PEACE program is being tested to see if sending community paramedics to manage worsening COPD symptoms at home can reduce hospital visits. It involves adapting the program based on patient and healthcare provider feedback and running a pilot study.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PEACE Arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients in this arm will receive PEACE Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Collaborator

Trials

3,987

Recruited

47,860,000+

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07072039

Evaluation of the Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD ...

This intervention is intended to improve clinical outcomes and reduce acute care costs by eliminating barriers to care, generating actionable clinical data that ...

2.

reporter.nih.gov

reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11126272

Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD Exacerbation

COPD exacerbations diminish patient quality of life, widen health disparities, and strain acute care resources. Frequent assessment and early treatment prevent ...

3.

trialstoday.org

trialstoday.org/trial/NCT07072039

Evaluation of the Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD ...

In this project, the investigators are testing a new program called PEACE (Paramedic Evaluation for Acute COPD Exacerbation). The PEACE program ...

4.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41746-025-01871-0

Evaluation of an integrated digital and mobile intervention ...

This study evaluated a community-based digital health intervention's association with acute care utilization among patients with moderate to severe COPD.

5.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954611122000129

Associated factors, assessment, management, and ...

The purpose of the scoping review was to examine the extant literature for factors contributing to presentations of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6831923/

Pre-hospital and emergency department pathways of care ...

Epidemiology, treatment, disposition and outcome of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD presenting to emergency departments in Australia ...

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675713006153

Patient safety analysis of the ED care of patients with heart ...

We collected outcome data for discharged ED patients > age 50 with acute heart failure or COPD in a multicenter prospective cohort study at five academic EDs.

8.

bmcdigitalhealth.biomedcentral.com

bmcdigitalhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44247-024-00142-4

Healthy at home for COPD: an integrated digital monitoring ...

Paramedics evaluate and treat patients aided by mobile diagnostic tools and medications, as well as live telehealth support from an on-call ...