Interdisciplinary COPD intervention in primary care: a cluster randomised controlled trial

We evaluated the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary, primary care-based model of care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 43 general practices in Australia. Adults with a history of smoking and/or COPD, aged. 40 years with two or more clinic visits in the previous year were enrolled following spirometric confirmation of COPD. The model of care comprised smoking cessation support, home medicines review (HMR) and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HomeBase). Main outcomes included changes in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), dyspnoea, smoking abstinence and lung function at 6 and 12 months. We identified 272 participants with COPD (157 intervention, 115 usual care); 49 (31%) out of 157 completed both HMR and HomeBase. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no statistically significant difference in change in SGRQ at 6 months (adjusted between-group difference 2.45 favouring intervention, 95% CI -0.89-5.79). Per protocol analyses showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in SGRQ in those receiving the full intervention compared to usual care (difference 5.22, 95% CI 0.19-10.25). No statistically significant differences were observed in change in CAT, dyspnoea, smoking abstinence or lung function. No significant evidence was found for the effectiveness of this interdisciplinary model of care for COPD in primary care over usual care. Low uptake was a limitation.