Community-based Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Nepal

University of Aarhus1,438 enrolled

Overview

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth most important cause of death worldwide and is one of the commonest non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nepal. The presence of risk factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution, the high prevalence of smoking and lack of general awareness of COPD makes it a serious public health concern. However, no attempt has been made in Nepal to estimate its burden and address the disease at the community level. This community-based cluster randomized controlled study aims to fulfil that gap through mobilization of Female Community Health Workers (FCHVs) who will be trained to perform a certain set of health promotion activities aimed at prevention of the disease and its progression. Baseline and follow-up surveys will be conducted to compare the intervention and control groups. This study has the potential to generate evidence in helping address NCDs in Nepal and also other similar resource-limited countries.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

1,438

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 90 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Capable of performing spirometry * Aged greater than and equal to 40 years * Full time residents in the study area and will be in the study area for at least one year Exclusion Criteria: * Younger than 40 years of age * Self-reported pregnancy * having active pulmonary tuberculosis or being on medications for pulmonary tuberculosis * thoracic, abdominal or eye surgery in the last six months * History of Mental illness * MI in past 8 weeks prior to study * Hospital admission in the past six months for cardiac illness * Those who decline to provide consent to the study will be excluded.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second

Mean difference in FVE1 between intervention and control arm

Time frame: 1 year

Secondary Outcomes

Proportion of risk factors of COPD between intervention and control arm