Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Digital Psychological Intervention (EmoEase) in Chinese COPD Patients

Launched by PEKING UNION MEDICAL COLLEGE · Aug 30, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a digital psychological program called EmoEase to see if it can help improve mental health in Chinese patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who often struggle with issues like depression and anxiety. The trial will involve at least 420 participants aged 35 and older, who will be randomly assigned to either receive standard care or standard care plus the EmoEase program for eight weeks. Participants will complete questionnaires and physical assessments at different points during the study to measure changes in their mental wellbeing and overall health.

To be eligible for the trial, participants should be 35 years or older, have a confirmed diagnosis of COPD, and be comfortable using a smartphone and the WeChat app. They need to be willing to engage in self-help sessions for about 10-20 minutes each week and attend three follow-up visits over four months. This study is an important step in understanding how digital tools can support mental health in COPD patients, and if successful, EmoEase could be a valuable resource for many individuals dealing with these conditions in China.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 35 years or older;
• • 2. Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≤70% or confirmed COPD patients;
• • 3. Literate and able to type;
• • 4. Have a smartphone;
• • 5. Be proficient in using the WeChat applet;
• • 6. Willingness to self-help iCBT sessions for 8 weeks, 10-20 minutes of practice per session, roughly 1 hour per week, time and place flexible;
• • 7. Receive three follow-up visits within four months (2 offline, 1 online) and complete a physical exam and online questionnaire; and
• • 8. Willingness to provide the hospital with their usual cell phone number.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients with a physician diagnosis of asthma or asthma-COPD overlap syndrome;
• • 2. Patients hospitalized for COPD within the previous one year;
• • 3. Having severe cognitive dysfunction and being unable to communicate;
• • 4. Severely ill with less than 12-month life expectancy.