Three volunteer patients have made sure the research they took part in has long-lasting benefits – by setting up a support group for people with lung problems.
Sue McKenzie, Caroline Allen and Denise Walker enjoyed their experience of acting as pulmonary rehabilitation buddies so much that they are now working with the charity Asthma + Lung UK to launch a new BreatheEasy group in Bury.
The trio were among six volunteers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who worked with local Principal Investigator Katy Bentley, a Respiratory Specialist Physiotherapist with Bury Lung Service, on the Improve study.
This matched up volunteers who had recently completed the pulmonary rehabilitation education and exercise programme with patients who had been referred to it, with the aim of supporting and encouraging them to complete the 12-session course.
Katy explained: “The six-week course is for anyone whose life is limited by breathlessness and it has very good outcomes. It reduces hospital admissions and recurrent infections, and the patients can do more because they’re not so breathless – we find the majority who complete the course do go on to do further exercise.
“The course also includes advice from pharmacists on medication and other tips on managing the condition.
“But although it has such a positive effect on quality of life, drop out rates are high nationally. Many of the patients who are referred to it are anxious about exercise and how it will affect their breathlessness.
“That’s why the research wanted to use buddies to provide a support network, show the difference completing the course makes an explain why it’s achievable.”
Katy and the team trained the buddies and offered monthly support sessions during the research, which was led by Kings College London and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
She added: “They are a really nice group of people and very motivated to help so we’re delighted that they plan to continue supporting other patients through BreatheEasy.
“It was Bury Lung Service’s first research study in the community too and we’re now looking for further opportunities that will help to develop and improve the services we offer to patients and service users.”
Pictured top are volunteers Sue McKenzie, Caroline Allen and Denise Walker.