Peer support and patient stories to help people join pulmonary rehab

Improving Participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation through Peer-Support and Storytelling

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, INC. · NIH-11179126

This project sees whether pairing adults with COPD with trained peers and sharing real patient stories helps them 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-11179126 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you have COPD and have been offered pulmonary rehab, this project may pair you with a trained peer who completed rehab and share short videos of other patients' experiences, with most contacts by phone or video. You would receive peer support and storytelling materials designed to encourage enrollment and ongoing attendance in pulmonary rehabilitation. The team will compare different ways of delivering peer support and stories and track who begins and completes rehab, along with symptoms and health care use. Participation may include brief surveys, phone check-ins, and watching or discussing recorded stories.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) with COPD who have been referred to pulmonary rehabilitation or who recently had an exacerbation are the best candidates for this project.

Not a fit: People without COPD, those who are too frail or have severe cognitive impairment to take part in rehab, or those without reliable phone/internet access may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, more people with COPD may start and finish pulmonary rehab, which could ease breathlessness, improve quality of life, and reduce emergency visits and hospital stays.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show telephonic peer support and storytelling can be acceptable and helpful in chronic disease care and for blood pressure control, but combining them specifically 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.