Improving COPD self-care programs
Official title: Optimizing Effectiveness and Implementation of COPD Self-Management Treatment
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11301806 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries different parts of a COPD self-care program—education, physical activity, and inhaler training—to see which combinations help adults with COPD who had a flare-up in the past year.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $687,320 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173120-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301806 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with a physician-diagnosed COPD who had an exacerbation in the past year and who can participate in program activities and follow-up are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without COPD, those who have not had a recent exacerbation, or those unable to take part in program activities or follow-up (for example due to severe illness or inability to travel) are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be part of a program that tests different combinations of self-management education, guided physical activity, and inhaler training. The team will enroll 448 adults with a doctor's diagnosis of COPD who experienced an exacerbation in the past year. The trial uses a factorial design over 12 months to compare which components or combinations reduce respiratory-related hospitalizations and to study how practical and affordable each option is to deliver. The goal is to create a simpler, lower-cost self-care program that clinics can realistically offer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower COPD-related hospitalizations and make effective self-care programs easier and cheaper for clinics to offer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior COPD self-management programs have reduced hospitalizations and improved quality of life, but using a systematic optimization approach to find the best combination of components is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mathew, Amanda R — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mathew, Amanda R
Related research
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Comprehensive home-based coaching to help COPD patients manage their care
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This study is looking to make self-management programs better for people with COPD by figuring out what works best, and it will involve 448 participants who will learn about managing their condition, staying active, and using their inhalers correctly, all with the goal of helping them feel better and stay out of the ho
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Michigan Diabetes Project: A Peer-Led Self-Management Program for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
A peer-led self-management program for adults with type 2 diabetes is being tested to see if it improves blood sugar control and daily diabetes care.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.