IMT in Asthma: Activity, Coping, Self-Management

NCT07320066 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IMT_Asthma_1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate asthma patients' experiences with an 8 week IMT and the perceived effects of this intervention on physical activity, coping strategies, and asthma self-management. A qualitative methodological design will be applied to understand the experiences of patients participating in the IMT program, how the program affected their daily activities, how they coped with symptoms and difficulties, and how they managed their condition.

Conditions

Qualitative Research

Keywords

asthma; inspiratory muscle training; telerehabilitation; self-management; qualitative research

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Patient-reported experiences of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) assessed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (study-specific interview guide)

  Semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews will be conducted using a study-specific interview guide containing open-ended questions to investigate the effect of an 8-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT) program on the experiences of adults with severe persistent asthma. Interviews will be conducted online and, when possible, in person or via telephone/video call. Interviews are expected to last approximately 45-60 minutes. Recordings will be transcribed verbatim in Turkish, supplemented with the researcher's field notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

  Single assessment after completion of the 8-week IMT program (within 4 weeks after IMT completion)

• Experience of exercising using telerehabilitation assessed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (study-specific interview guide)

  Semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews will be conducted using a study-specific interview guide with open-ended questions to explore participants' experiences of exercising with telerehabilitation, including the perceived role of telerehabilitation in the learning process, and perceived advantages, limitations, and challenges from the participant's perspective. Interviews will be conducted online and, when possible, in person or via telephone/video call. Interviews are expected to last approximately 45-60 minutes. Recordings will be transcribed verbatim in Turkish, supplemented with the researcher's field notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

  Single assessment after completion of the 8-week IMT program (within 4 weeks after IMT completion)

• Changes in physical activity in daily life assessed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (study-specific interview guide)

  Semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews will be conducted using a study-specific interview guide with open-ended questions to explore perceived changes in physical activity in daily life (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, housework) from the participant's perspective following the 8-week program. Interviews will be conducted online and, when possible, in person or via telephone/video call. Interviews are expected to last approximately 45-60 minutes. Recordings will be transcribed verbatim in Turkish, supplemented with the researcher's field notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

  Single assessment after completion of the 8-week IMT program (within 4 weeks after IMT completion)

• Self-management skills assessed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (study-specific interview guide)

  Semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews will be conducted using a study-specific interview guide with open-ended questions to explore participants' perceived self-management skills, including disease and trigger recognition, symptom monitoring, accountability/responsibility, and perceived control. Interviews will be conducted online and, when possible, in person or via telephone/video call. Interviews are expected to last approximately 45-60 minutes. Recordings will be transcribed verbatim in Turkish, supplemented with the researcher's field notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

  Single assessment after completion of the 8-week IMT program (within 4 weeks after IMT completion)

• Coping strategies assessed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (study-specific interview guide)

  Semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews will be conducted using a study-specific interview guide with open-ended questions to explore participants' perceived coping strategies, including breathing/respiratory rate control strategies and emotional and behavioral regulation during symptom attacks and when anxiety/panic symptoms are prominent. Interviews will be conducted online and, when possible, in person or via telephone/video call. Interviews are expected to last approximately 45-60 minutes. Recordings will be transcribed verbatim in Turkish, supplemented with the researcher's field notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

  Single assessment after completion of the 8-week IMT program (within 4 weeks after IMT completion)

Study Arms (1)

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group (PRGr)

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group (PRGr) Participant selection for the study was conducted using a purposive sampling approach. All participants experienced inspiratory muscle training for a total of 3 days per week over 8 weeks, with 2 days per week via video conference and 1 day per week as part of a home program. All interviews will be conducted online via a video conference website and recorded using a digital voice recorder. The recorded data will be transcribed word for word in Turkish.

Other: other

Interventions

other OTHER

Other: Telephone concept elicitation interview All interview questions are designed to be quite open-ended in order to determine participants' preferences in an unbiased manner (as much as possible). Additional questions will only be used when necessary to ensure that all relevant concepts are covered. Participants will be asked questions about the effects of inspirational muscle training they have previously experienced on their daily lives, coping strategies, and self-management processes.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group (PRGr)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Asthma

You may qualify if:

• Being between the ages of 18-65
• Having been diagnosed with severe persistent, non-allergic asthma by a pulmonologist in accordance with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline criteria,
• Patients with type 2 inflammation markers. According to accepted standards; peripheral eosinophils \<150/µL and/or negative skin prick test and/or total IgE \<30 kU/L
• Bronchodilator response (\>12% or 200 mL improvement in FEV1% predicted following inhalation of 400 mg salbutamol)
• Diagnosis-follow-up period: Patients diagnosed at least 6 months prior, under follow-up and treatment, and/or with controlled asthma
• Having completed the pulmonary rehabilitation program
• Completion of 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT)
• Patients who have read, understood, and signed the informed consent form

You may not qualify if:

• Having recently had a respiratory tract infection recently (within the last month),
• Having a smoking history of more than 10 pack-years or having a history of smoking within 6 months after quitting smoking
• Having received oral corticosteroid treatment in the last 4 weeks,
• Having a Body Mass Index \>35,
• Eosinophilic Granulomatosis Polyangiitis (EGPA) and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA),
• Vasculitis,
• History of malignancy,
• Pregnancy,
• Previous lung surgery, use of long-term oxygen therapy
• Having accompanying restrictive lung diseases (advanced kyphoscoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis) and neuromuscular diseases (myastania gravis, muscular dystrophies, myopathies) that will prevent healthy respiratory function testing and rehabilitation.
• Cognitive dysfunction, mental retardation, dementia, or other conditions that make it difficult to follow the protocol,
• Unwillingness to continue participating in the study,
• Communication difficulties or intellectual deficiencies

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Esenyurt University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Esenyurt University

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34890, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Esra PEHLİVAN, PhD

CONTACT

+90 216 777 96 00; fztesrakambur@yahoo.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: January 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 19, 2027
• Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

TU (1)