Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was the top cause of preventable hospitalisations for chronic diseases in Australia in 2016-17.
The identification of ‘treatable traits’ in COPD – in particular the severity, activity and impact – are crucial in the provision of an individualised treatment programme for reducing the burden of COPD.
General practice (primary care) is best placed to embed strategies to prevent hospitalisations through the provision of appropriate individualised preventive interventions.
In Monash University’s TERRACOTTA trial, disease management targeting treatable traits will be delivered by an interdisciplinary team of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals.
This multidisciplinary team have already demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of interdisciplinary interventions for COPD in primary care. The proposed cluster randomised trial will be the first of its kind offering tailored interventions targeting treatable traits in COPD in individuals at risk of exacerbations, to improve quality of life and avoid hospitalisations.
Their findings will inform clinical practice and facilitate continuous quality improvement in the care of patients with COPD.
They are seeking expression of interest from general practice clinics with at least 500 patients in their database and that have a practice nurse or are able to accommodate a practice nurse, to deliver the tailored intervention targeting treatable traits in COPD or provide usual care.
Upon recruitment into the trial, clinics will be randomised to the intervention or usual care.
If you are interested in being part of the TERRACOTTA trial or want to know more about it, please contact [email protected].Â
