Our asthma research study to see whether a simple breath test can improve the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, with the study acronym (Low NO) and lead by Professor Tim Harrison has now finished.
The study was funded by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) grant and was in collaboration with Nottingham, Derby and Lincoln Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG's).
The project ustilised a new primary care hub and spoke model involving 47 primary care practices and achieved the NIHR High Level Objective (HLO) of Recruitment to Time and Target.
The study involved consented patients being randomised into receiving either an active corticosteroid or placbo inhaler. Each patient was then followed up at monthly intervals for 3 months with lung function, exhaled nitric oxide levels (FeNO) along with asthma control and cough questionnaires being undertaken at each visit.
Our asthma research nurses attended regular asthma clinics arranged by each GP practice over a period of two years and identified patients with suspected asthma who were interested in taking part in the study.
During the study over 450 GP clinics were attended by our asthma nurses and over 1500 patients were pre-screened for suitability for the study, with 237 being fully screened and 180 going onto to enter the trial.
It has been hard work by all of the Low NO team to fully recruit to and conduct the study and has bee a terrific team effort and a big thank you to all the patients who volunteered to be part of this important research.
Well done Team Low NO!!
Asthma Nurses: Clair Parrish, Nicky Singleton, Karen Shaw (pictured above)
Primary Care Research Manager: Shani Hutchinson
Database Manager: Glenn Hearson
PhD Student: Lissa Sutherland
Scientists: Carly Thorp, Helen Lee