TranslateAsthma
A controlled study of the effectiveness of breathing training exercises taught by a physiotherapist by either instructional videos/DVDs/internet download or by face-to-face sessions in the management of asthma in adults
Addressing priority 7: NIHR research published. Many people with asthma are interested in non-drug treatments, particularly in breathing exercises. Teaching these breathing exercises face to face works well. This study showed that breathing retraining exercises improve quality of life in adults with asthma and at lower cost than usual care, with delivery by DVD having equivalent outcomes with lower cost than face-to-face training.
“It has been a great privilege to be involved in a research project like BREATHE, which had its roots firmly embedded in the wishes and priorities of patients with asthma and their families. We knew from the work of the James Lind Alliance, and our own clinical experience, that breathing techniques were of great interest to people with asthma.
We also knew that there were not enough NHS physiotherapists with the specialist skills needed to teach these techniques. BREATHE was developed out of these two key facts – and has resulted in a trial assessing the effect of physiotherapy breathing retraining learned through two different delivery methods – a) face to face with a physio, and b) digitally using a DVD plus booklet at home. We have found that both delivery methods were equally effective for our participants.
The interventions were developed iteratively with feedback from patients and clinicians, and this has helped to make sure they are not only effective, but also acceptable, and therefore more likely to be used in practice. We can honestly say that without the input of clinicians, patients and their families, we would not have been able to design, develop, test, and now implement, our new digital intervention.”
Anne Bruton, Co-investigator of the BREATHE study
The following Cochrane systematic reviews all address priority 1 from the Asthma PSP:
Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma
Inhaled steroids with and without regular salmeterol for asthma: serious adverse events
Regular treatment with formoterol and inhaled steroids for chronic asthma: serious adverse events
Regular treatment with formoterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events
Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events