Singing for Health: Improving Experiences of Lung Disease (SHIELD Trial)

Singing for lung health (SLH) is a novel approach intended to improve the health status of people with respiratory disease. In group sessions, a trained singing leader teaches vocal techniques, which improve breathing control and posture, in the context of an enjoyable non-disease related activity. Initial pilot studies and qualitative work have established the concept that SLH can produce physical, psychological and social benefits. A properly conducted efficacy study is needed before larger scale trials, addressing impacts over a longer term and effect on health resource utilisation, can be undertaken.

DESIGN: An assessor blind, parallel group, randomised controlled trial, to assess the effects of SLH compared to usual care on health status. The investigator will also evaluate the impact on physical activity, physical performance, and breathlessness perception to investigate the mechanisms involved.

Research question and outcome measures:

The primary outcome will be change in health status, assessed using the Short Form 36 tool (SF-36), comparing SLH and control arms.

Additional endpoints will be: the COPD assessment test score (CAT), the MRC dyspnoea score, Dyspnoea-12, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC scale).

For psychological health, anxiety will be assessed using the GAD-7 and depression using the PHQ-9.

Physical activity will be assessed using the cPPAC PROactive physical activity in COPD tool (a combination of questionnaire and actigraphy). Physical capacity using the six-minute walk test, and physical performance using the short physical performance battery.

Assessments: At an initial baseline assessment a structured clinical history will take place and the diagnosis confirmed by spirometry. The outcomes outlined above will be recorded at baseline and then after 12 weeks.

POPULATION: Adult patients with COPD will be recruited from primary and secondary care as well as through advertising. Diagnosis will be based on clinical history, confirmed by spirometry and a history of smoking. Participants in the active arm will attend once weekly SLH groups for 12 weeks. The comparison arm will receive usual care. Randomization will be stratified by prior participation in pulmonary rehabilitation and by MRC dyspnoea score, to ensure groups are matched.

SAMPLE SIZE Sample size: Based on pilot data, where the standard deviation (SD) for change in SF-36 was 15 points, to identify a clinically relevant 10 point difference in SF-36 responses at a 0.05 level of significance with a 90% power would require 48 patients in each treatment arm. Allowing for 20% dropout the investigator will therefore recruit 120 patients.

Primary analysis will be on an intention to treat basis. Change in parameters will be assessed comparing SLH/control using Generalised Linear Models to estimate treatment effects. In order to better understand changes in the SF-36 "anchor measure", the investigator will relate this to changes in measures of breathlessness, physical activity, capacity and performance.

An additional responder analysis will compare the proportion in each treatment arm achieving a clinically important (10%) improvement in SF-36.

Addendum: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic an it became inappropriate to continue delivering group singing sessions in person, so the first group of participants is to complete their 12 weeks of intervention using online delivered sessions. This relates the first group of 18 participants had been recruited, randomised, baseline assessments completed and begun the intervention. Their follow-assessments will be posted to participants for them to complete at home. All assessment measures will be the same as originally stated, however the 6MWT and SPPB require clinical supervision, so will not be completed. The results from this group will be reported separately to the rest of the study who will complete the original protocol when the situation with COVID-19 has improved, and it is safe for participants to do so. An appropriate amendment to ethical approval has been made. Data from the control group may also be reported separately, being of interest in itself, as a natural experiment regarding the impact of social distancing and shielding measures on people with COPD. Again, the variables assessed will not change.

Addendum 2: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the study will continue to be conducted remotely, as described above, with online delivery of the singing intervention and remotely collected outcome measures. Most recent clinical spirometry will be used for COPD diagnosis confirmation. Due to no longer being able to conduct the object assessments of physical performance mean daily step count will also be reported as a secondary outcome measure. For clarification, the exclusion criteria of previous participation in Singing For Lung health, refers to no participation in the last year. Appropriate amendments to the ethical approval have been made.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults with stable COPD

Exclusion criteria

• Pulmonary rehabilitation less than 4 months ago
• Unable to take part in singing sessions due to comorbidity (e.g. life limiting illness, cognitive impairment)
• Previous participation in SLH classes