The TANDEM trial: protocol for the process evaluation of a randomised trial of a complex intervention for anxiety and/or depression in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Patient perspectives on the Tailored intervention for Anxiety and Depression Management in COPD (TANDEM): a qualitative evaluation

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with anxiety/depression which can affect self-management and quality of life. The TANDEM trial evaluated a cognitive behavioural approach intervention targeting COPD-related symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, comprising up to eight one-to-one sessions delivered by respiratory healthcare professionals prior to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The intervention showed no improvement in anxiety/depression or uptake/completion of PR. We present patient perspectives of the intervention to help understand these results.

METHOD

Semi-structured individual interviews, using a semi-structured topic guide informed by Sekhon's Theoretical Framework of Acceptability, were conducted with 19 patients between September 2019 and April 2020. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.

RESULTS

The following could have limited the impact of the intervention: (1) The lives of patients were complex and commonly affected by competing comorbidities or other external stressors which they managed through previously adopted long-standing coping strategies. (2) Some patients were reluctant to talk about their mood despite the Facilitators' training and person centred-skills which aimed to enable patients to talk freely about mood. (3) The intervention handouts and 'home-practice' were perceived as helpful for some, but not suitable for all. (4) Many patients perceived improvements in their physical and mental health, but this was not sustained due to a mix of personal and external factors, and some did not perceive any benefits. (5) PR non-attendance/non-completion was a result of personal and PR service-related reasons. (6) Discussing COPD and mental health with the Facilitator was a novel experience. Many patients felt that TANDEM could be of benefit if it was offered earlier on/at different time points in the COPD illness journey.

CONCLUSION

We found the delivery of TANDEM prior to PR was not helpful for patients with advanced COPD often experiencing other comorbidities, and/or difficult personal/external events. These patients already utilised long-standing coping strategies to manage their COPD. Holistic interventions, that address the impact of COPD in relation to wider aspects of a patients' life, may be more beneficial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry 59,537,391. Registration date 20 March 2017.

A tailored psychological intervention for anxiety and depression management in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: TANDEM RCT and process evaluation

Background

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have high levels of anxiety and depression, which is associated with increased morbidity and poor uptake of effective treatments, such as pulmonary rehabilitation. Cognitive-behavioural therapy improves mental health of people with long-term conditions and could potentially increase uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation, enabling synergies that could enhance the mental health of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aim

Our aim was to develop and evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a tailored cognitive-behavioural approach intervention, which links into, and optimises the benefits of, routine pulmonary rehabilitation.

Design

We carried out a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial using a 1.25 : 1 ratio (intervention : control) with a parallel process evaluation, including assessment of fidelity.

Setting

Twelve NHS trusts and five Clinical Commissioning Groups in England were recruited into the study. The intervention was delivered in participant's own home or at a local NHS facility, and by telephone.

Participants

Between July 2017 and March 2020 we recruited adults with moderate/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mild/moderate anxiety and/or depression, meeting eligibility criteria for assessment for pulmonary rehabilitation. Carers of participants were invited to participate.

Intervention

The cognitive-behavioural approach intervention (i.e. six to eight 40- to 60-minute sessions plus telephone support throughout pulmonary rehabilitation) was delivered by 31 trained respiratory healthcare professionals to participants prior to commencing pulmonary rehabilitation. Usual care included routine pulmonary rehabilitation referral.

Main outcome measures

Co-primary outcomes were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - anxiety and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - depression at 6 months post randomisation. Secondary outcomes at 6 and 12 months included health-related quality of life, smoking status, uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation and healthcare use.

Results

We analysed results from 423 randomised participants (intervention, n = 242; control, n = 181). Forty-three carers participated. Follow-up at 6 and 12 months was 93% and 82%, respectively. Despite good fidelity for intervention delivery, mean between-group differences in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 6 months ruled out clinically important effects (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - anxiety mean difference -0.60, 95% confidence interval -1.40 to 0.21; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - depression mean difference -0.66, 95% confidence interval -1.39 to 0.07), with similar results at 12 months. There were no between-group differences in any of the secondary outcomes. Sensitivity analyses did not alter these conclusions. More adverse events were reported for intervention participants than for control participants, but none related to the trial. The intervention did not generate quality-of-life improvements to justify the additional cost (adjusted mean difference £770.24, 95% confidence interval -£27.91 to £1568.39) to the NHS. The intervention was well received and many participants described positive affects on their quality of life. Facilitators highlighted the complexity of participants' lives and considered the intervention to be of potential valuable; however, the intervention would be difficult to integrate within routine clinical services. Our well-powered trial delivered a theoretically designed intervention with good fidelity. The respiratory-experienced facilitators were trained to deliver a low-intensity cognitive-behavioural approach intervention, but high-intensity cognitive-behavioural therapy might have been more effective. Our broad inclusion criteria specified objectively assessed anxiety and/or depression, but participants were likely to favour talking therapies. Randomisation was concealed and blinding of outcome assessment was breached in only 15 participants.

Conclusions

The tailored cognitive-behavioural approach intervention delivered with fidelity by trained respiratory healthcare professionals to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was neither clinically effective nor cost-effective. Alternative approaches that are integrated with routine long-term condition care are needed to address the unmet, complex clinical and psychosocial needs of this group of patients.

Trial registration

This trial is registered as ISRCTN59537391.

Funding

This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 13/146/02) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 1. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Tailored psychological intervention for anxiety or depression in COPD (TANDEM): a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The TANDEM multicentre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial evaluated whether a tailored psychological intervention based on a cognitive behavioural approach for people with COPD and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression improved anxiety or depression compared with usual care (control).

METHODS

People with COPD and moderate to very severe airways obstruction and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale subscale scores indicating mild to moderate anxiety (HADS-A) and/or depression (HADS-D) were randomised 1.25:1 (242 intervention and 181 control). Respiratory health professionals delivered the intervention face-to-face over 6-8 weeks. Co-primary outcomes were HADS-A and HADS-D measured 6 months post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes at 6 and 12 months included: HADS-A and HADS-D (12 months), Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, social engagement, the EuroQol instrument five-level version (EQ-5D-5L), smoking status, completion of pulmonary rehabilitation, and health and social care resource use.

RESULTS

The intervention did not improve anxiety (HADS-A mean difference -0.60, 95% CI -1.40-0.21) or depression (HADS-D mean difference -0.66, 95% CI -1.39-0.07) at 6 months. The intervention did not improve any secondary outcomes at either time-point, nor did it influence completion of pulmonary rehabilitation or healthcare resource use. Deaths in the intervention arm (13/242; 5%) exceeded those in the control arm (3/181; 2%), but none were associated with the intervention. Health economic analysis found the intervention highly unlikely to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

This trial has shown, beyond reasonable doubt, that this cognitive behavioural intervention delivered by trained and supervised respiratory health professionals does not improve psychological comorbidity in people with advanced COPD and depression or anxiety.

The Workwell trial: protocol for the process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial of job retention vocational rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis

Background

The Workwell trial is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial with the aims of evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of job retention vocational rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis, who are experiencing work difficulties due to their arthritis. Vocational rehabilitation is delivered by health service occupational therapists, who have received additional training in providing this Workwell intervention. A process evaluation will be undertaken alongside the main trial to investigate implementation fidelity; understand key stakeholders’ perspectives of the intervention and the social and structural context in which the intervention is provided; and explore issues related to future implementation in clinical practice. This protocol describes the aims, objectives, and methodology of the Workwell trial process evaluation.

Methods

This mixed methods process evaluation will follow the Medical Research Council’s Guidance on process evaluations for complex interventions. It will be underpinned by the conceptual framework for implementation fidelity (CFIF) and normalisation process theory (NPT). We will analyse treatment records, work assessments, and treatment notes to ascertain implementation fidelity. Semi-structured interviews with trial participants, their employer/line managers, treating therapists, and their therapy service managers will be undertaken to explore perceptions of the intervention, contextual factors, and potential for future implementation in practice. Interview topic guides will be informed by NPT. Therapists’ views about Workwell training will be explored via questionnaires following training, and interviews and focus groups following treatment delivery to inform future implementation. Quantitative data will be analysed descriptively. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. NPT will guide data analysis and interpretation. Findings from the different elements of this embedded design process evaluation will be reported separately and then the elements integrated. The process evaluation data will be analysed independently of the Workwell trial outcome evaluation. The process evaluation data will then be reviewed in the light of the trial findings.

Discussion

Few trials of job retention vocational rehabilitation in arthritis have included process evaluations. This process evaluation will assist in understanding factors influencing trial outcomes and identifying potential contextual barriers and facilitators for the potential implementation of Workwell vocational rehabilitation into clinical services.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03942783. Registered on 08 May 2019. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN61762297. Registered on 13 May 2019. Retrospectively registered.

Enhancing and assessing fidelity in the TANDEM (Tailored intervention for ANxiety and DEpression Management in COPD) trial: development of methods and recommendations for research design

BACKGROUND

Development of complex interventions for management of chronic conditions has become increasingly common, with guidance now provided. Fidelity (whether the intervention is designed, delivered and received as intended) is critical to understanding if, and how an intervention works (or not). However, methods for achieving this are still evolving. This study describes the methods used in the TANDEM trial - a large multicentre study evaluating the impact of a cognitive behavioural intervention preceding routine pulmonary rehabilitation for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anxiety and or depression. Results for enhancement and training aspects of fidelity, are presented.

METHODS

Using the National Institute for Health Behaviour Change Consortium (NIH BCC) framework of fidelity, a set of enhancement strategies and a fidelity measurement strategy were developed with input from a multidisciplinary team. The Cognitive First Aid Rating Scale (CFARS) was used to assess Facilitator (the respiratory professional delivering TANDEM) therapeutic competence at the end of the initial training and throughout treatment delivery (on a randomly selected set of cases). A TANDEM specific treatment adherence measure was developed following previously recommended procedures. Together these (the CFARS and adherence measure) comprised the TANDEM treatment delivery fidelity tool.

RESULTS

Hiring of respiratory professionals to the initial training programme was successful, with 44% of those expressing initial interest in being a Facilitator successfully completing the process. Video recordings of potential Facilitators conducting standardized patient role plays at the end of the initial training demonstrated fidelity of training.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing fidelity in complex intervention trials is a time and resource intensive process but has significant potential to increase understanding of results and strengthen the evidence base for effective interventions. By defining a full fidelity assessment method prior to analysis we aimed to minimise bias when interpreting results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN59537391 . Registered on 20 March 2017. Trial protocol version 6.0, 22 April 2018. Process evaluation protocol version 4.0, 1 November 2020.

Correlation of Serum IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β with Depression and Prognosis after Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective

To explore the correlation of serum IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β with depression and prognosis after acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

By means of retrospective analysis, the data of 240 patients at the acute exacerbation of COPD treated in our hospital (February 2018-February 2021) were analyzed. All patients received conventional treatment 1 d after admission, patients' serological indicators were measured before treatment, and after 30 d of follow-up, the patients were divided into the survival group (SG) and death group (DG) according to their clinical outcomes, the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) scores of the surviving patients were investigated, the correlation of IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β levels with depression was analyzed by R analytics, and the correlation of IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β levels with prognosis was analyzed by ROC curve analysis.

Results

The results of 30 d follow-up showed that 220 patients survived (91.7%) and 20 patients died (8.3%). Among the surviving patients, 95 patients had depression and 125 patients did not have depression; the BDI scores of the depressed subjects and the nondepressed subjects were 10.35 ± 1.25 points and 2.06 ± 0.76 points, respectively; significant differences in IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β levels between SG and DG were observed (P < 0.05); significant differences in IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β levels between the depressed subjects and the nondepressed subjects were observed (538.43 ± 19.02 vs. 515.32 ± 9.65, 7.54 ± 0.56 vs. 12.11 ± 2.41, and 8.70 ± 0.98 vs. 8.12 ± 0.87; P < 0.001); among the depressed patients, the IL-18 and IL-1β levels were positively correlative with the BDI scores (r = 0.781, r = 0.2583, P < 0.001, P = 0.012), and the BDNF level was negatively correlative with the BDI scores (r = -0.3277, P = 0.001) before treatment; according to the ROC analysis, the AUC (95% CI) of IL-18, BDNF, and IL-1β in predicting prognosis was 0.8770 (0.8281-0.9260), 0.7723 (0.6879-0.8567), and 0.7165 (0.6080-0.8250) (P < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusion

In regard to the depression in COPD patients after acute exacerbation, IL18 and IL-1β show positive correlation, and BDNF presents negative correlation. All three indicators have predictive value for patient outcome.