Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Aiding COPD and CHF Ultrasound-guided Management Through ENhanced Point Of Care UltraSound

This study is checking if a new way of monitoring lung health can help people with conditions like COPD (a lung disease) and heart failure (a heart condition) stay healthier at home. It combines a small ultrasound device, used at home, with special software called PRESUNA. This software helps doctors and other healthcare staff see changes in your lungs more clearly and track them over time. The main goal is to see if this new approach can help prevent hospital visits, improve how patients feel, and make healthcare more efficient, compared to the standard care you’d get from a home hospital team.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Michelle Grinman

Enrolment target

Start

16 Oct 2023

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2025

COPD CHF Pneumonia

What is this study about?

Imagine you have a condition like COPD or heart failure, and sometimes your lungs might get a bit worse. Doctors want to find the best ways to help you manage your health and stay at home, rather than needing to go into the hospital.

This study is testing a new approach that uses a special type of ultrasound, often called a 'point-of-care ultrasound' or POCUS. It's a bit like the ultrasound used for pregnant women, but it focuses on your lungs. What makes this study unique is that it combines this ultrasound with new software called PRESUNA. This software helps healthcare professionals like paramedics, nurses, and doctors get a clearer picture of what's happening in your lungs and track any changes over time. They can even share these pictures easily with your medical team.

The idea is that by seeing these changes earlier and more clearly, your care team might be able to adjust your treatment sooner, which could help you feel better and reduce the need for emergency hospital visits. The study wants to find out if this special ultrasound and software can genuinely improve your experience, help healthcare providers do their best work, and make healthcare more efficient. It's happening within a 'home hospital' program, where you receive hospital-level care right in your own home.

Key takeaways

This study evaluates new ultrasound technology (POCUS) and software (PRESUNA) for managing lung conditions.
It aims to help people with COPD or heart failure manage their health better at home.
The goal is to potentially reduce hospital visits and improve patient well-being.
Healthcare professionals will use the devices during visits as part of a 'home hospital' programme.
Participation involves either standard home care or standard care plus the new technology.
This research hopes to make home-based healthcare more effective and efficient.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to join this study, you would need to be 18 years old or older and have a national health number. You'd also need to be well enough to receive hospital-level care at home, either on your own or with help from a caregiver, and your health must be stable enough that you don't need too many home visits each day. Importantly, you would need to have been diagnosed with either heart failure, COPD, or both, and need care from the home hospital programme. You must also be able and willing to follow a treatment plan and agree to receive care through the home hospital.

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you're not suitable for home hospital care in the first place, or if you have new, unstable broken ribs that could be made worse by the ultrasound (which involves gentle pressure). Also, if you know you're allergic to the gel used with ultrasound, or if you simply prefer not to take part in a research study, then this study wouldn't be for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a diagnosis of COPD and/or heart failure requiring home hospital care?
Are you well enough to receive hospital-level care at home?
Are you able and willing to follow a medical plan?
Do you consent to receiving care from the home hospital?
Are you not allergic to ultrasound gel and do not have unstable broken ribs?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll either receive the usual care from the home hospital team, or you'll receive that usual care plus the new ultrasound and PRESUNA software monitoring. This part of the study runs daily. Healthcare professionals, including paramedics and doctors from the home hospital program, will be trained to use the ultrasound and software. If you're in the group using the new technology, they will use a small ultrasound device to check your lungs, and the PRESUNA software will help them understand and track the images. The total duration of your participation would be for as long as you are receiving care from the home hospital programme.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part could include gaining a deeper understanding of your lung health through advanced monitoring, which might lead to more timely adjustments to your treatment and potentially fewer hospital visits. For others, it might contribute to helping future patients. Risks are generally low; the ultrasound involves gentle pressure on the chest, which might be uncomfortable if you have very sensitive areas, but it's not known to be harmful. There's also the time commitment for assessments. Remember, your participation is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Rockyview General Hospital
Verified postcode
Calgary, Canada

Common questions

What is COPD and CHF?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. CHF stands for Congestive Heart Failure, a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood around the body.

What is POCUS?

POCUS stands for Point Of Care UltraSound. It's a small, portable ultrasound device that healthcare professionals can use right where you are, like in your home, to get quick images of your body, in this case your lungs.

What is PRESUNA software?

PRESUNA is special computer software being tested in this study. It's designed to help doctors and other healthcare staff interpret and track the images taken with the POCUS device when they're looking at lungs.

Will I have to go to the hospital if I join?

The goal of this study is actually to help you receive more care at home and potentially reduce the need for hospital visits. You'll be part of a 'home hospital' program, meaning you get hospital-level care where you live.

Is the ultrasound safe?

Yes, ultrasound is a very common and safe medical imaging technique. It uses sound waves, not radiation, and normally just involves a gel applied to your skin and a small device pressed gently against it.