Rehabilitation plays a central role in improving the health and wellbeing of patients with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions. By improving long term health outcomes and potentially reducing hospital admissions, rehabilitation can help to reduce the huge social and economic burden of these long term conditions to the NHS.
The Research Group has an international reputation for its work on developing novel rehabilitation treatments and self-management strategies that can be put into clinical practice in both primary and secondary care settings.
Pulmonary rehabilitation at UHL contributes to research, including community trials and digital health interventions. Recent work focuses on making care more accessible and improving physical activity and rehab methods. Visit their recent publications to learn more.
We have achieved a number of prestigious awards and grants (Health Foundation Shine Award for Innovation, NHS Regional Innovation Fund, NIHR Research for Patient Benefit and ARC-EM (Applied Research Centre – East Midlands), Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Wellcome Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) and are currently involved in the following research and implementation studies:
Why is PPI important?
- PPI was identified in 1996 in “Consumers in NHS Research” (1996) and the NIHR INVOLVE group quickly evolved. This group promotes and supports PPI involvement in NHS, public health and social care research and development.
- PPI gives individuals and communities the opportunity and influence to shape health and social care services and is part of the NHS Centre for Involvement.
- As experts in research we know that research which reflects the needs and views of the public is more likely to produce results that can be used to improve practice in health and social care.
Our Department’s PPI Aims
- Provide a formal, permanent & diverse representation of patients and public who use the Covid, Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation department services or participate in Covid, Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation department and ARC Rehabilitation Theme research.
- Uphold an international reputation by utilising PPI to advise on the production of quality research.
- Uphold an international reputation by utilising PPI to advise on improving clinical provision.
Ongoing commitment of departmental PPI
- We hold quarterly PPI meetings for existing members of the PPI group but welcome all new enquires for individuals who would like to join us. Individual studies that have PPI members allocated to them also hold regular meetings appropriate to their needs.
Useful links
The PPI Team
PPI Lead Lorraine Voisey and Ruth Nelson.
If you are interested in joining the group please contact Lorraine or Ruth at:
[email protected] or [email protected] or alternatively call on: 0116 2583986.
PHOSP-COVID – Rehabilitation for lasting symptoms of COVID-19
Inclusion: Hospitalised for a COVID-19 infection and experiencing ongoing symptoms.
Contact details: Enya Daynes
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 258 2758
PHOSP_Sub-Study_Rehabilitation_Sub-study (286kB pdf)
Global RECHARGE
This project facilitates low-mid income countries to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation and increase their capacity for research. The countries currently involved are: India, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
For more information about the project please email [email protected]
Our website: https://www.globalrecharge.org.uk/
Follow us on Twitter: @Global_RECHARGE
Rehabilitation for cardiac arrhythmia in COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients
Inclusion Criteria: Patients who are post covid-19 and enrolled into a COVID rehabilitation programme.
Controlled group: individuals who have not had COVID-19 or fully recovered from COVID-19 with no ongoing symptoms.
Contact details: Munyra Alhotye
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 258 2671
Patients study PIS Rehab for Cardiac Arrhythmia (289kB pdf)
Study volunteers PIS Rehab for Cardiac Arrhythmia (286kB pdf)
Archived studies
If you would like to see the abstract, paper or lay summary of results, please see the information below.
Comparing the exercise tests used to assess functional capacity in patients with COPD.
Who can participate?
- Patients with moderate to severe COPD (GOLD 2+/ MRC 3+)
- No significant conditions preventing exercise
- Has not completed pulmonary rehabilitation in the last year
- Not using long term oxygen
Contact details: Theresa Harvey-Dunstan
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 250 2761
Offering patients information about their COPD on a tablet or PC after they are discharged from hospital.
Who can participate?
- Patients hospitalised because of their COPD
- No significant conditions preventing exercise
- Able to read and write English
- Computer literate with own email address
If you would like to see the abstract, paper or lay summary of results please follow the link below.
Contact details: Linzy Houchen-Wolloff
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 250 2759
Interspace Patient Information Sheet version 2 8th Sept 2014 (118kB pdf)
Assessing the levels of daily physical activity in healthy adults to compare with patients who have asthma.
Study outcomes
Compared to controls, adults with severe asthma attain fewer daily steps and reduced sustained moderate–vigorous physical activity which are associated with worse quality of life. Physical activity and exercise interventions are needed for severe asthma.
Contact details: Mark Orme
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 258 3035
a pragmatic study – Delivering the SPACE for COPD self-management programme to community groups
Who can participate?
- Patients with COPD
- No significant conditions preventing exercise
- Able to read and write English to the level of an 8 year old
- Hasn’t completed pulmonary rehabilitation in the last year
If you would like to see the abstract, paper or lay summary of results please follow the link below.
Tel: 0116 250 2762 or 0116 258 3035
Exercise-based rehabilitation in severe asthma- is it feasible?
Who can participate?
- Patients with severe asthma (on step 4 or 5 of BTS guidelines)
- No significant conditions preventing exercise
- No ITU admission within the last year, or severe exacerbation in the last month or hospital admission in the last 3 months (due to asthma)
Contact details: Stacey Hewitt
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 258 3035
Add a file to start using this block
Web-based cardiac rehabilitation for those decline or drop-out of conventional classes.
Who can participate?
- Patients with Coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Computer literate with own email address
- Able to read and write English
- People who have recently declined or dropped out of cardiac rehabilitation
- No significant conditions preventing exercise
- Those with low levels of depression (HADS below 11) or low exercise performance (ISWT 120 metres +)
Contact details: Binnie Barnes or Champa Patel
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Tel: 0116 250 2760
Interventions to reduce time in sitting following a hospital admission for COPD.
Study outcomes
Focusing on sitting less and moving more after an exacerbation may act as a suitable stepping stone to increase uptake to pulmonary rehabilitation. This study looked at how people living with COPD experienced using wearable technology to reduce their sitting follow hospital discharge. The wearable technology also provided vibration prompts to encourage movement at participant-defined intervals of time. Collectively, patients responded to 106 out of 325 vibration prompts from the wearable technology. Within 5 minutes of the prompt, participants stood on average for 1 minute 24 seconds and walked for 24 seconds, taking 21 steps. Interviews with participants indicated that being unwell and overwhelmed after an exacerbation was the main reason for not being able to engage with the intervention. Health care staff considered reducing sedentary behaviour potentially attractive for patients and suggested starting the intervention as an inpatient. Although the data support that it was feasible to conduct the trial, modifications are needed to improve participant retention. The intervention was acceptable to most patients and health care professionals.
Contact details: Mark Orme or Amie Weedon
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Tel: 0116 258 3652