Airflow directed to the face by a fan is shown to relief breathlessness in palliative care and some studies have suggested High-Flow nasal airflow therapy beneficial as well. However, these two treatments have not been compared. 40 patients with advanced cancer and breathlessness are recruited from Tampere University Hospital or Pirkanmaa Hospice. All patients are treated with two therapies: 1. High-Flow nasal airflow therapy with a nasal cannula and 2. airflow directed to the face by a fan. Both treatment periods last 30 minutes or as long as the patient wish to use the therapy. The effects of the therapies on breathlessness are compared by asking the subjective relief of breathlessness after each therapies. The study do not limit any other therapies used in the normal clinical care for the patients. Thus, all the other therapies the physicians taking care of the patient orders are permitted. Hopefully, the patients achieve relief for their breathlessness through the study treatments given in addition to their normal treatment. There are no significant risks related to the therapies, but they may cause some inconveniences such as mouth dryness. These possible side-effects of the therapies are asked as well.
Airflow directed to the face by a fan is shown to relief breathlessness in palliative care and some studies have suggested High-Flow nasal airflow therapy beneficial as well. However, these two treatments have not been compared and High-Flow nasal airflow therapy has not been tested in the context of hospice. 40 patients over 18 years with advanced cancer and breathlessness are recruited from Tampere University Hospital or Pirkanmaa Hospice. All patients are treated with two therapies: 1. High-Flow nasal airflow therapy with a nasal cannula and 2. airflow directed to the face by a fan (crossover trial). Both treatment periods last 30 minutes or as long as the patient wish to use the therapy. The effects of the therapies on breathlessness are compared by asking the subjective relief of breathlessness after each therapies with numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no breathlessness) to 10 (the worst possible breathlessness). Influence of the treatments on anxiety, pain and mouth dryness are measured as well with numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10. The study do not limit any other therapies used in the normal clinical care for the patients. Thus, all the other therapies the physicians taking care of the patient orders are permitted. Hopefully, the patients achieve relief for their breathlessness through the study treatments given in addition to their normal treatment. There are no significant risks related to the therapies, but they may cause some inconveniences such as mouth dryness. These possible side-effects of the therapies are asked as well.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
36
A high-flow nasal therapy for 30 minutes.
A fan directed to the face for 30 minutes
Pirkanmaa Hospice
Tampere, Finland
Tampere University Hospital
Tampere, Finland
Breathlessness after the study treatments (difference between the High-Flow Nasal Therapy and a fan)
The breathlessness after the study treatments measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no breathlessness) to 10 (the worst possible breathlessness).
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in breathlessness before and after the treatments
Change in breathlessness before and after the treatments measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no breathlessness) to 10 (the worst possible breathlessness).
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in mouth dryness before and after the treatments
Change in mouth dryness before and after the treatments measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no mouth dryness) to 10 (the worst possible mouth dryness).
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in anxiety before and after the treatments
Change in anxiety before and after the treatments measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no anxiety) to 10 (the worst possible anxiety).
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in pain before and after the treatments
Change in pain before and after the treatments measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst possible pain).
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in respiratory frequency with the treatments
Change in respiratory frequency measured by calculating breaths per minute.
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in heart rate with the treatments
Change in heart rate measured by calculating heart beats per minute.
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Change in oxygen saturation with the treatments
Change in peripheral oxygen saturation (%) measured with pulse oximeter.
Time frame: Measurements are made immediately before and immediately after the treatment period.
Proportion of patients reporting to have overall benefit of the treatments
Proportion of patients reporting to have overall benefit of the treatments
Time frame: Opinion is asked immediately after the treatment
Proportion of patients who report side-effects of the treatments
Proportion of patients who report side-effects of the treatments
Time frame: Experienced side-effects are asked immediately after the treatment
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