Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseImPReSS-COPDNCT05399056
Improving Participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Through Peer Support and Storytelling
A study testing Telephonic Peer Coaching and Storytelling in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, run by Baystate Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects approximately 16 million Americans and is characterized by recurrent exacerbations that lead to 1.5 million Emergency Department visits and 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- What is being tested?
- Telephonic Peer Coaching and Storytelling
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 305 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 24 Feb 2023to 31 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 40 years or older
- Received treatment for COPD exacerbation in either inpatient or outpatient setting
- Referred for pulmonary rehabilitation
- Ability to understand and communicate in English
- Willingness to participate in calls with peer coach and to view storytelling videos
- Working phone
Who cannot join
- Unwilling to attend PR
- Not eligible for PR based on spirometry or other clinical contraindications as determined by PR staff
- Currently enrolled in, or completion of 12 or more sessions of PR in the past
- Comfort measures only or Hospice care
- Resident of long-term care facility
- Unable or unwilling to give informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Baystate Health
Springfield, Massachusetts, 01199
Rajashree Kotejoshyer, 9787618709, Rajashree.Kotejoshyer@baystatehealth.org
About this study
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects approximately 16 million Americans and is characterized by recurrent exacerbations that lead to 1.5 million Emergency Department visits and 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a structured program of exercise and self-management support that has been proven to relieve shortness of breath and increase quality of life when initiated after an exacerbation, but unfortunately, few eligible patients participate. This project will compare the effectiveness of two novel strategies - one involving video narratives of other patients telling their story of how they overcame challenges and completed PR, the other involving telephonic peer coaching with an individual with lived experience - to enhanced usual care, and to each other, at increasing patient participation in PR after an exacerbation.
Read the detailed description
Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) lead to roughly 1.5 million ED visits and 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Recovery is slow and accompanied by high levels of acute care utilization and mortality. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a structured program of exercise and self-management support that has been shown to relieve dyspnea and improve quality of life. Clinical guidelines recommend PR for patients with stable COPD and after an exacerbation. Unfortunately, even when referred by physicians, research has shown that few patients who might benefit from PR ever begin treatment.
The primary goal of this project is to identify effective strategies for promoting and sustaining participation in PR. Peer Support involves pairing a patient with a trained peer from a similar background, and facing similar health challenges, who has completed PR. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of telephonic peer support for chronic disease management. Narrative interventions, or 'Storytelling', are novel approaches for changing attitudes and behaviors of patients that involve creating and disseminating videos narrated by individuals with lived experience with the same condition or facing the same treatment. Storytelling interventions have been shown to help individuals achieve better blood pressure control, and storytelling is being studied in a variety of other clinical contexts.
In the R61 Phase, the investigators will recruit and train a cohort of peer coaches in behavior change techniques, and will recruit a diverse group of storytellers, capture their narratives on video, and create a library of 6-8 powerful stories. The investigators will finalize the protocol, trial infrastructure, and pilot the recruitment strategy. During the R33 Phase, the investigators will recruit 305 adults treated for exacerbation of COPD, and randomize them to 1) Enhanced "Usual Care" (eUC); 2) eUC + Storytelling; or 3) eUC + Peer Support. The investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of each strategy compared to eUC, and to each other, at promoting participation in PR at 6 months.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the investigators will evaluate intervention acceptability, sustainability, and cost, from the perspectives of the patients and peer coaches as well as PR program staff and hospital leadership. This information will be uses to refine the strategies and to disseminate an implementation package that will enable other PR programs to adopt these approaches.
- Conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Being tested
- Telephonic Peer Coaching, Storytelling
- Keywords
- COPD, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Storytelling, Peer coaching, motivational interviewing, Behavioral interventions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Medical subject headings
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Telephonic Peer CoachingBehavioural
Telephonic Peer Coaching from an individual with lived experience with COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation trained in motivational interviewing
StorytellingBehavioural
Video narratives of an individual with lived experience with COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation describing their journey through Pulmonary Rehabilitation
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced usual care | No intervention | Enhanced usual care describes a process in which automated surveillance is used to identify individuals experiencing a COPD exacerbation. This is followed by direct outreach - either through in-person visits while a patient is hospitalized, or by mail and telephone in the outpatient setting, to facilitate referral to PR. Subjects randomized to this arm will be given a pamphlet describing the benefits of PR. |
| Enhanced usual care + Storytelling | Active comparator | Subjects randomized to the eUC + Storytelling intervention will view the video narrative(s) of one or more individuals with COPD who has overcome similar barriers and has attended a program of PR. Subjects will be shown the first chapter of the story immediately after randomization and will receive email and/or text messages to prompt viewing of subsequent chapters at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 5 months. Emails and text messages will include a link to a REDCap document that contains a set of embedded video clips representing the next chapter in each storyteller's narrative. Receives: Behavioral: Storytelling |
| Enhanced usual care + Peer support | Active comparator | Subjects randomized to the eUC + Peer support intervention will be matched with a peer coach of the same gender, race, and approximate age. For those enrolled during a hospitalization, coaches will be instructed to attempt the initial phone contact prior to the patient's discharge; for patients enrolled after an ED visit or outpatient exacerbation, coaches will be instructed to contact the patients within 72 hours of randomization. Peer coaches will be asked to complete at least one call each week during months 1-2, biweekly calls during months 3-4, and monthly calls during months 5-6. Coaches will be asked to follow a conversation guide, provided during the initial training, to structure phone conversations with their paired patient. Receives: Behavioral: Telephonic Peer Coaching |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) sessions: Completion of ≥6 PR sessions within 6 months of randomization
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Any attendance (yes/no) at PR within 6 months of randomization.
Measured: 6 months
Total number of PR sessions completed within 6 months of randomization.
Measured: 6 months
Time to first PR session attended
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jun 2022
- Study start24 Feb 2023
- Primary completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 305 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Baystate Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, COPD Foundation, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Peter Lindenauer, MD, MSc, Principal investigator, Baystate Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05399056
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1730517
- Other IDs
- R33HL157847
- Acronym
- ImPReSS-COPD
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 24 May 2022
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We will share deidentified individual participant data upon receipt and approval of research question and analysis plan from a researcher; or for teaching purposes.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improving Participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Through Peer Support and Storytelling
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05399056
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ImPReSS-COPD / 1730517
- Conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Keywords
- COPD, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Storytelling, Peer coaching, motivational interviewing, Behavioral interventions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 305 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Baystate Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, COPD Foundation, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Study start
- 24 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects approximately 16 million Americans and is characterized by recurrent exacerbations that lead to 1.5 million Emergency Department visits and 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a structured program of exercise and self-management support that has been proven to relieve shortness of breath and increase quality of life when initiated after an exacerbation, but unfortunately, few eligible patients participate. This project will compare the effectiveness of two novel strategies - one involving video narratives of other patients telling their story of how they overcame challenges and completed PR, the other involving telephonic peer coaching with an individual with lived experience - to enhanced usual care, and to each other, at increasing patient participation in PR after an exacerbation.
Detailed description
Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) lead to roughly 1.5 million ED visits and 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Recovery is slow and accompanied by high levels of acute care utilization and mortality. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a structured program of exercise and self-management support that has been shown to relieve dyspnea and improve quality of life. Clinical guidelines recommend PR for patients with stable COPD and after an exacerbation. Unfortunately, even when referred by physicians, research has shown that few patients who might benefit from PR ever begin treatment.
The primary goal of this project is to identify effective strategies for promoting and sustaining participation in PR. Peer Support involves pairing a patient with a trained peer from a similar background, and facing similar health challenges, who has completed PR. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of telephonic peer support for chronic disease management. Narrative interventions, or 'Storytelling', are novel approaches for changing attitudes and behaviors of patients that involve creating and disseminating videos narrated by individuals with lived experience with the same condition or facing the same treatment. Storytelling interventions have been shown to help individuals achieve better blood pressure control, and storytelling is being studied in a variety of other clinical contexts.
In the R61 Phase, the investigators will recruit and train a cohort of peer coaches in behavior change techniques, and will recruit a diverse group of storytellers, capture their narratives on video, and create a library of 6-8 powerful stories. The investigators will finalize the protocol, trial infrastructure, and pilot the recruitment strategy. During the R33 Phase, the investigators will recruit 305 adults treated for exacerbation of COPD, and randomize them to 1) Enhanced "Usual Care" (eUC); 2) eUC + Storytelling; or 3) eUC + Peer Support. The investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of each strategy compared to eUC, and to each other, at promoting participation in PR at 6 months.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the investigators will evaluate intervention acceptability, sustainability, and cost, from the perspectives of the patients and peer coaches as well as PR program staff and hospital leadership. This information will be uses to refine the strategies and to disseminate an implementation package that will enable other PR programs to adopt these approaches.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced usual care | No intervention | –Enhanced usual care describes a process in which automated surveillance is used to identify individuals experiencing a COPD exacerbation. This is followed by direct outreach - either through in-person visits while a patient is hospitalized, or by mail and telephone in the outpatient setting, to facilitate referral to PR. Subjects randomized to this arm will be given a pamphlet describing the benefits of PR. |
| Enhanced usual care + Storytelling | Active comparator | Behavioral: StorytellingSubjects randomized to the eUC + Storytelling intervention will view the video narrative(s) of one or more individuals with COPD who has overcome similar barriers and has attended a program of PR. Subjects will be shown the first chapter of the story immediately after randomization and will receive email and/or text messages to prompt viewing of subsequent chapters at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 5 months. Emails and text messages will include a link to a REDCap document that contains a set of embedded video clips representing the next chapter in each storyteller's narrative. |
| Enhanced usual care + Peer support | Active comparator | Behavioral: Telephonic Peer CoachingSubjects randomized to the eUC + Peer support intervention will be matched with a peer coach of the same gender, race, and approximate age. For those enrolled during a hospitalization, coaches will be instructed to attempt the initial phone contact prior to the patient's discharge; for patients enrolled after an ED visit or outpatient exacerbation, coaches will be instructed to contact the patients within 72 hours of randomization. Peer coaches will be asked to complete at least one call each week during months 1-2, biweekly calls during months 3-4, and monthly calls during months 5-6. Coaches will be asked to follow a conversation guide, provided during the initial training, to structure phone conversations with their paired patient. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 40 years or older
- Received treatment for COPD exacerbation in either inpatient or outpatient setting
- Referred for pulmonary rehabilitation
- Ability to understand and communicate in English
- Willingness to participate in calls with peer coach and to view storytelling videos
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Unwilling to attend PR
- Not eligible for PR based on spirometry or other clinical contraindications as determined by PR staff
- Currently enrolled in, or completion of 12 or more sessions of PR in the past
- Comfort measures only or Hospice care
- Resident of long-term care facility
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Telephonic Peer CoachingTelephonic Peer Coaching from an individual with lived experience with COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation trained in motivational interviewing | Behavioural | Enhanced usual care + Peer support |
| StorytellingVideo narratives of an individual with lived experience with COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation describing their journey through Pulmonary Rehabilitation | Behavioural | Enhanced usual care + Storytelling |
Primary outcome
Number of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) sessions: Completion of ≥6 PR sessions within 6 months of randomization
Time frame: 6 months
3 secondary outcomes
Any attendance (yes/no) at PR within 6 months of randomization.
Time frame: 6 months
Total number of PR sessions completed within 6 months of randomization.
Time frame: 6 months
Time to first PR session attended
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We will share deidentified individual participant data upon receipt and approval of research question and analysis plan from a researcher; or for teaching purposes.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Peter Lindenauer, MD, MSc principal investigator
Baystate Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Telephonic Peer Coaching and Storytelling in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, run by Baystate Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Rajashree Kotejoshyer, ScD (978-761-8709, Rajashree.Kotejoshyer@baystatehealth.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) sessions: Completion of ≥6 PR sessions within 6 months of randomization (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.