Clinical Trial: The Use of a Handheld Fan to Manage Breathlessness - A Feasibility Study

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Use of a Handheld Fan to Improve Breathlessness - a Feasibility Study to Assess Relief From Breathlessness After Five Minutes Use of a Han

Brief Summary: The aim of the study is to investigate if the use of a handheld fan directed to the cheeks alongside conventional medical treatment partially or totally relieves breathlessness and if this effect lasts for at least 30 minutes in patients irrespective of the underlying disease process.

Detailed Summary:

A previous randomised controlled trial (Galbraith et al, accepted for publication) has shown a reduction in breathlessness after 5 minutes use of a fan directed to the cheeks. This study is a feasibility study to determine how long this beneficial effect lasts.

With the patient in a relaxed sitting position and ensuring there is no other fan or open window blowing air onto the subject, the following will be explained to the patient and then measured and recorded

  • Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for dyspnoea
  • Visual analogue scale (VAS) for breathlessness with end anchors
  • O2 saturation using pulse oximeter
  • Pulse rate using pulse oximeter
  • Room temperature and humidity recorded

The patients will be asked to avoid talking or significantly change position throughout the study.

Fan to cheeks The investigator will demonstrate to the patient how to use the handheld fan directed to the cheeks. The appropriate area on the face, which corresponds to the area innervated by 2nd and 3rd trigeminal nerve branches, will be demonstrated by the researcher. The patient will then use the fan as demonstrated and this will be timed for 5 minutes with the patient in a relaxed sitting position.

Assessment following treatment with fan After 5 minutes use of the fan directed at cheeks, the following will be recorded immediately

  • NRS and VAS for dyspnoea
  • Relief score, a 5 point rating of how much relief from breathles
    Sponsor: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Current Primary Outcome: Primary outcome measure is time in minutes for which breathlessness is improved after 5 minutes use of the fan directed at the face [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]

    Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • Relief from breathlessness noted on relief score after using the handheld fan [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]
    • Correlation between VAS and NRS scales [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]


    Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

    Information By: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Dates:
    Date Received: September 9, 2009
    Date Started: January 2010
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: January 30, 2015
    Last Verified: January 2015