A digital self-management programme (BreathTec) to support patients with a chronic respiratory disease: A retrospective analysis of breathlessness techniques.

<bold>Background:</bold> Managing breathlessness is key for self-management for respiratory patients. We developed an interactive, personalised digital programme (BreathTec), based on our face-to-face model (1). Over five sessions, BreathTec uses cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for managing breathlessness, staying physically active and mental health. <bold>Aim:</bold> To identify which breathlessness techniques were helpful to patients. <bold>Methods:</bold> We retrospectively analysed anonymous feedback, from patients using BreathTec, completing the first 2 sessions (assessment/managing breathlessness), to identify helpful breathlessness techniques on a scale from 0-5 (1 did not try, 2 not helpful, 3 helpful a bit, 4 very helpful, 5 life changing). <bold>Results:</bold> From 105 patients enrolled to BreathTec, 73 patients (70%) provided feedback on breathlessness techniques (table 1). <bold>Table 1 - Feedback on techniques</bold> <table-wrap><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4147/T1</object-id><object-id>T1</object-id><object-id>t1</object-id><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><bold>Techniques</bold></td><td><bold>1–Did not try</bold></td><td><bold>2–Not helpful</bold></td><td><bold>3–Helpful a bit</bold></td><td><bold>4–Very helpful</bold></td><td><bold>5-Life changing</bold></td></tr><tr><td>Pacing</td><td> 6 </td><td>6</td><td>24</td><td>35</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Breathing control</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>37</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Distraction</td><td>12</td><td>5</td><td>27</td><td>28</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Stop rest relax</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>21</td><td>47</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Positioning</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>34</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Air fan</td><td>34</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>20</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Facial cooling</td><td>29</td><td>8</td><td>18</td><td>17</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Learn to relax</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>27</td><td>37</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Thinking differently</td><td>9</td><td>12</td><td>24</td><td>28</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Balance each day</td><td>13</td><td>4</td><td>31</td><td>24</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Healthy weight</td><td>16</td><td>5</td><td>21</td><td>29</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Breathlessness techniques are rated highly by patients. References 1. Heslop-Marshall k, Baker C, Carrick-Sen D, Newton J, Echevarria, C, Stenton SC, Jambon M, Gray J, Pearce K, Burns G, De Soyza A. (2018.) Randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy in COPD. ERJ Open Research. 4: 00094-2018; DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00094-2018.