Non-pharmacological Cough Control Therapy with Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Chronic Cough in Interstitial Lung Disease A Feasibility Study Evaluating Virtual Educational and Self-Management Sessions

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a non-drug cough control therapy as an addition to pulmonary rehabilitation for adults with interstitial lung disease (ILD) who experience chronic cough lasting more than 8 weeks. Chronic cough in ILD causes significant physical, psychological, and social challenges, and currently, no approved medications effectively treat this symptom. This study aims to explore whether this cough control therapy is feasible and more effective than pulmonary rehabilitation alone in improving quality of life, reducing cough intensity, and lessening fatigue symptoms. Participants will join an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program that includes aerobic and strength exercises, disease-specific education, and self-management. Two weeks before pulmonary rehabilitation ends, they will begin the non-pharmacological cough control therapy consisting of four virtual sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes each. These sessions cover cough assessment, education on cough mechanisms, cough suppression techniques, breathing pattern retraining, and laryngeal hygiene strategies, delivered through an online platform called Zoom Healthcare Plan. During the study, researchers will track how many eligible patients enroll and complete the intervention, session attendance, and any side effects. They will assess outcomes using questionnaires on cough severity, lung disease quality of life, fatigue, breathlessness, and cough sensitivity, along with global change ratings and participant satisfaction interviews. The average study duration is one year, with evaluations before and after the intervention to measure feasibility and effectiveness of the therapy.

A Non-pharmacological Cough Control Therapy