Help for pulmonary rehab with peer support and patient stories

Improving Participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation through Peer-Support and Storytelling

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, INC. · NIH-11418809

This project will try phone-based peer support and short personal-story videos to help adults with COPD start and stay in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SPRINGFIELD, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11418809 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would be paired with a trained peer who has completed pulmonary rehabilitation and receive regular phone-based support while also watching short videos of people with COPD sharing their rehab experiences. Some participants will receive the peer-support and storytelling program while others receive usual referral so the team can compare which approach helps more people begin and complete PR. The program is delivered mostly by phone and video, so much of it can be done from home. The team will track attendance in PR, breathlessness, quality of life, and healthcare visits like ER trips or hospital stays.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with COPD who have been referred to pulmonary rehabilitation or who recently had an exacerbation are the ideal candidates for this program.

Not a fit: People without COPD, those who are medically unstable for PR, or those unable to use phone/video communications are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more people enroll in and complete pulmonary rehabilitation, reduce breathlessness, and lower acute care visits.

How similar studies have performed: Telephone peer-support and storytelling have shown promise in other chronic conditions (including improved blood pressure control), but applying them to boost pulmonary rehab participation is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

SPRINGFIELD, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Chronic Disease

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.