Tele-Coaching Intervention to Improve Treatment Adherence in Cystic Fibrosis

This is a prospective, multicenter pilot study to test the feasibility and acceptability of a tele-coaching intervention and its implementation in patients with CF (ages 14-25 years), and to obtain estimates of treatment effects across a range of key outcome measures (e.g., global adherence, change in treatment barriers, specific improvement in adherence, etc.)

Inclusion criteria

COACH Participants:

• Be a CF-focused clinician employed by one of the study sites, including: social workers; respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses, mental health coordinators, dieticians, and psychologists.

PATIENT Participants:

• Male or female ≥ 14 and ≤ 25 years of age;
• Documentation of a CF diagnosis as evidenced by one or more clinical features consistent with the CF phenotype and one or more of the following criteria: (a) sweat chloride > 60 mEq/L by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis test (QPIT), and/or (b) two well-characterized mutations in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene;
• Has been prescribed one or more respiratory nebulized medications, such as: (a) dornase alfa, (b) hypertonic saline, (c) inhaled tobramycin, (d) inhaled aztreonam, (e) inhaled colistimethate *and/or* uses a vest device for airway clearance;
• If taking, or anticipating to start on, Trikafta, has been taking the modulator for 6 weeks prior to enrolling in the study;
• Has access to necessary resources for participating in a technology-based intervention: (a) mobile phone, tablet, computer, or digital camera capable of capturing and sending a digital image, and access to Internet; (b) an email account;
• Is English-speaking;
• Endorsed score of ≥3 on any treatment component on the CF-CBS at Enrollment Visit.

CAREGIVER Participants:

• Is a caregiver of and resides with a Patient Participant in this study;
• Has received permission from the Patient Participant, if aged 18 years of age or older, to be in the study; and
• Is English-speaking.

Exclusion criteria

COACH Participants:

• Anticipated change in CF Center during study period;
• Physicians (MD, DO, or equivalent degree);
• Advanced practice providers (e.g., APRN, PA) who serve as the primary provider in the CF clinic setting; and
• Site research coordinator designated for this study.

PATIENT Participants:

• Participation in the previous Tele-coaching study;
• Anticipated transition to another CF care center within study period;
• Planned or scheduled hospitalization between consent and start of intervention;
• Self-reported current or planned pregnancy;
• Having a person in the same household who is also enrolled in the study;
• Presence of a condition, abnormality, or other factor that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data including, but not limited to: (a) diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disability that would preclude safe or adequate completion of measures; (b) history of, or planned, lung transplant;
• Participation in concurrent studies targeting improvement in treatment adherence.

CAREGIVER Participants:

• Participation in the previous Tele-coaching study;
• Only one caregiver per Patient Participant can be enrolled in the Caregiver Cohort.