Improving Outcome Measures For Adult CF ACT Trials

This is a randomised controlled cross-over trial involving adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from the Royal Brompton Hospital, London investigating outcome measures used in airway clearance trials. Each participant will attend the research facility for two visits. Participants will be randomly assigned to the order that they perform the study sessions. Visit A will involve a period of rest for up to 60 minutes in-between assessments; Visit B will involve a session of airway clearance (ACT) utilising ACBT supervised by a specialist physiotherapist in adult CF. Participants will perform the outcome measure (OM) tests of impulse oscillation system (IOS), lung clearance index (LCI), and spirometry, then either rest (visit A) or perform a supervised ACBT session (visit B) using electronic impedance tomography (EIT) during the session. IOS, LCI and spirometry will be repeated after the session. Sputum will be collected throughout the ACT or rest sessions and for 30 minutes after each of these sessions is completed. Questionnaires asking patient views on the OMs will be completed at the end of each study visit. Analysis will be based upon differences in outcome measures and in-between study days.