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

Background Mental health problems in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are common and frequently neglected. Digital psychological interventions may reduce mental health problems, but their effectiveness has not been evaluated in the Chinese COPD population. In this study, we will develop an integrated digital psychological intervention (EmoEase) and evaluate its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in enhancing the mental wellbeing of COPD patients in China.

Methods This study is a multicenter, two-arm, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a parallel-group design to enroll at least 420 COPD patients with age over 35 years. Participants will be assigned to receive either usual care (control group) or usual care + EmoEase (intervention group). Assessments will take place at baseline (T0) and 4 weeks (T1), 8 weeks (T2), and 16 weeks (T3) after baseline, and participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and have physical measurements taken. The primary outcome measure will assess mental wellbeing using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Secondary outcome measures will assess mental health, physical health, COPD symptoms, health risk behaviors, socioeconomic indicators, and healthcare utilization and expenditure. Analyses will utilize an intention-to-treat approach.

Discussion This is the first RCT to examine the value of EmoEase, a novel digital psychological intervention for COPD patients. If this intervention is effective and cost-effective, it could be rapidly scaled up to provide mental health care for COPD patients in China.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 35 years or older;
• Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≤70% or confirmed COPD patients;
• Literate and able to type;
• Have a smartphone;
• Be proficient in using the WeChat applet;
• 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;
• Receive three follow-up visits within four months (2 offline, 1 online) and complete a physical exam and online questionnaire; and
• Willingness to provide the hospital with their usual cell phone number.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a physician diagnosis of asthma or asthma-COPD overlap syndrome;
• Patients hospitalized for COPD within the previous one year;
• Having severe cognitive dysfunction and being unable to communicate;
• Severely ill with less than 12-month life expectancy.