Phonation Therapy to Improve Symptoms and Lung Physiology in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To investigate Phonation therapy to improve symptoms and lung physiology in patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. The study design will be a randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome is improvement in patient symptoms (Borg dyspnea score). Secondary outcomes are improvement in time of breath hold, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), negative inspiratory force (NIF) and improvement in quality of life. The investigators will be investigating tonation breathing techniques (TBT) exercises and music-driven vocal exercises (MDVE). The study population would be patients who are referred to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for symptomatic chronic lung disease. The calculated sample size for the study would be 16 patients and the duration of the study would be 8 weeks. The study would be performed after the participant's pulmonary rehabilitation session.

Detailed Description
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Patients who are referred for pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic lung disease and/or post-COVID19 therapy, and who have had pulmonary function testing already will be approached. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an 8-week program (meeting 3 times per week for the 8 weeks). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the standard of care for patients with chronic lung diseases and or post-COVID-19 therapy. Eligible study participants will be called prior to their introductory PR session to explain the research project, and those who are interested will be given full information and offered time to ask questions. The investigators find this necessary for logistics, given many of the PR patients rely on scheduled transportation to/from PR and this will allow those who are interested in obtaining more information and to consent to the study to arrange for appropriate transportation. Informed consent will be done in person on an individual basis at their introductory PR session, with 1:1 discussion with the study staff and the patient. As this is a pilot study to determine feasibility, and preliminary data (as no data are currently available for this patient population), the investigators propose 16 participants in total, 4 in each arm of the study. Randomization will occur by random number generator (1-4 for each arm proposed). Once informed consent is obtained, patients will be randomized to 4 arms of the study. Randomization will be performed using a random number generator. Comparing tonation breathing technique (TBT) to normal breathing: Of the 8 weeks of PR, first 4 weeks will be sessions of normal breathing exercises for 20 minutes, then subsequent 4 weeks will be with TBT intervention for 20 minutes. Of the 8 weeks of PR, the first 4 weeks will be with TBT intervention for 20 minutes, then the next 4 weeks will be of sessions of normal breathing exercises for 20 minutes. Comparing MDVE to normal breathing: Of the 8 weeks of PR, the first 4 weeks will be sessions of normal breathing exercises for 20 minutes, then the subsequent 4 weeks will be with Music Driven Vocal Exercises (MDVE) intervention for 20 minutes. Of the 8 weeks of PR, the first 4 weeks will be with MDVE intervention for 20 minutes, then the next 4 weeks will be of sessions of normal breathing exercises for 20 minutes. These interventions would be performed after the usual PR time when patients would be normally discharged home. Therefore, no additional monitoring is expected. Pulmonary function testing is standard for all patients who receive PR - testing before and after PR is routine clinical course. The investigators propose an additional pulmonary function test (PFT) study at 4 weeks, as part of the research protocol (covered by the Department of Medicine funding) In summary, the interventions for research purposes will include: 20-minute sessions after PR for intervention (TBT or MDVE) or normal breathing for twice a week for the 8 weeks they are participating in PR. PFT at end of week 4 Proposed subjective outcomes are routinely asked of PR patients, but will be collected at baseline, at 4 weeks (mid-way), and at 8 weeks (end) of PR. Proposed objective outcomes: For FEV1, FVC - these are routinely collected at baseline and at end of PR. The investigators propose an additional PFT study at 4 weeks, covered by the DOM Faculty Development Fund. For peak flow and NIF - these are procedures that ask for patients to breathe maximally for inspiration and expiration. They are not routine measures collected but are routine bedside measurements for pulmonary patients that can be collected for any person without any additional risk or cost.

Official Title
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Phonation Therapy to Improve Symptoms and Lung Physiology in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Conditions
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COVID-19

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Tonation Breathing Techniques
* Behavioral: Music Driven Vocal Exercises
* Behavioral: Silent Breathing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 years and older English-speaking and reading patient Able to consent for study Referred for pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic lung disease (including long COVID19 syndrome, COPD, ILD, PH) Baseline Borg dyspnea score as moderate (score 3) or higher. Has baseline pulmonary function testing available in electronic medical record. Exclusion Criteria: • Cannot commit to staying an extra 30 min after Pulmonary Rehabilitation sessions for the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized control trial. Randomization for each subject occurs twice. First: One of two types of intervention. Second: Sequence for intervention and normal breathing sessions.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Silent Breathing / Tonation Breathing Techniques (TBT)<br>Twice a week during the patient's 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation: For first 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of silent quiet breathing while sitting. Next 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of TBT guided by a facilitator virtually | Behavioral: Tonation Breathing Techniques<br>* Tonation and Breathing Techniques (TBT): consist of a combination of organic inhalation and controlled exhalation with tonation. This will be guided by a trained facilitator, and the entire exercise will take 20 minutes. This will include guided relaxed breathing, mindful breathing, patterned tonation, nasal tonation, and pursed lip tonation.<br>* Other names: TBT;Behavioral: Silent Breathing<br>* Patient will sit in a quiet room and focus on silent breathing x 20 min.<br>|
| Experimental: Silent Breathing / Music Driven Vocal Exercises (MDVE)<br>Twice a week during the patient's 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation: For first 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of silent quiet breathing while sitting. Next 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of MDVE guided by a facilitator in-person | Behavioral: Music Driven Vocal Exercises<br>* Music Driven Vocal Exercises (MDVE): A Music Therapy procedure will be implemented by a trained facilitator, utilizing an accompanying instrument (ie, guitar or Autoharp) and moving stepwise up and down within a scale of 8 whole steps. The total length of the procedure is 20-25 minutes. This will include vocal exercises, and melodic exercises alternating with speaking,<br>* Other names: MDVE;Behavioral: Silent Breathing<br>* Patient will sit in a quiet room and focus on silent breathing x 20 min.<br>|
| Experimental: Tonation Breathing Techniques (TBT) / Silent Breathing<br>Twice a week during the patient's 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation: For first 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of TBT guided by a facilitator virtually Next 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of silent quiet breathing while sitting. | Behavioral: Tonation Breathing Techniques<br>* Tonation and Breathing Techniques (TBT): consist of a combination of organic inhalation and controlled exhalation with tonation. This will be guided by a trained facilitator, and the entire exercise will take 20 minutes. This will include guided relaxed breathing, mindful breathing, patterned tonation, nasal tonation, and pursed lip tonation.<br>* Other names: TBT;Behavioral: Silent Breathing<br>* Patient will sit in a quiet room and focus on silent breathing x 20 min.<br>|
| Experimental: Music Driven Vocal Exercises (MDVE) / Silent Breathing<br>Twice a week during the patient's 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation: For first 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of MDVE guided by a facilitator in-person Next 4 weeks, twice a week - 20 min of silent quiet breathing while sitting. | Behavioral: Music Driven Vocal Exercises<br>* Music Driven Vocal Exercises (MDVE): A Music Therapy procedure will be implemented by a trained facilitator, utilizing an accompanying instrument (ie, guitar or Autoharp) and moving stepwise up and down within a scale of 8 whole steps. The total length of the procedure is 20-25 minutes. This will include vocal exercises, and melodic exercises alternating with speaking,<br>* Other names: MDVE;Behavioral: Silent Breathing<br>* Patient will sit in a quiet room and focus on silent breathing x 20 min.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Borg dyspnea score | subjective score of dyspnea | 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FEV1 | forced expiratory volume in 1 second | 4 and 8 weeks | 
| Borg dyspnea score | subjective score of dyspnea | 4 weeks | 
| Breath hold | time in seconds participant can hold breath | 4 weeks, 8 weeks | 
| quality of life (QOL) | questionnaire on quality of life | 4 weeks, 8 weeks | 
| forced vital capacity (FVC) | forced vital capacity | 4 weeks, 8 weeks | 
| peak flow | peak flow | 4 weeks, 8 weeks | 
| negative inspiratory force (NIF) | negative inspiratory force | 4 weeks, 8 weeks |