The handheld fan for chronic breathlessness: Clinicians' experiences and views of implementation in clinical practice.

Introduction: The handheld fan ('fan') is useful for chronic breathlessness management, however little is known about clinicians' implementation of the fan in clinical practice.

Aim: To explore clinicians' experiences and views of fan implementation.

Methods: A qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews.

Airflow rates and breathlessness recovery from submaximal exercise in healthy adults: prospective, randomised, cross-over study.

Objectives: Facial airflow from a hand-held fan may reduce breathlessness severity and hasten postexertion recovery. Data from randomised controlled trials are limited and the optimal airflow speed remains unknown. We aimed to determine the effect of different airflow speeds on recovery from exercise-induced breathlessness.

Mixed-methods feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a paramedic-administered breathlessness management intervention for acute-on-chronic breathlessness (BREATHE): study findings.

Introduction: One-fifth of emergency department presentations by ambulance are due to acute-on-chronic breathlessness. We explored the feasibility of an evaluation-phase, cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a paramedic-administered, non-pharmacological breathlessness intervention for people with acute-on-chronic breathlessness at ambulance call-out (BREATHE) regarding breathlessness intensity and conveyance to hospital.

Methods: This mixed-methods, feasibility cRCT (ISRCTN80330546) randomised paramedics to usual care or intervention plus usual care.

Implementing the battery-operated hand-held fan as an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention for chronic breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a qualitative study of the views of specialist respiratory clinicians.

Introduction: The battery-operated hand-held fan ('fan') is an inexpensive and portable non-pharmacological intervention for chronic breathlessness. Evidence from randomised controlled trials suggests the fan reduces breathlessness intensity and improves physical activity in patients with a range of advanced chronic conditions. Qualitative data from these trials suggests the fan may also reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning for many patients.

Non-medical devices for chronic breathlessness: use, barriers and facilitators for patients, carers and clinicians - a scoping review.

Background: Non-medical devices such as the handheld fan (fan), mobility aids (wheeled walkers with seats) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) devices offer benefits for patient management of chronic breathlessness. We examined the published evidence regarding patient, carer and clinician use of the fan, mobility aids and IMT devices for chronic breathlessness management, and the potential barriers and facilitators to day-to-day use in a range of settings.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched.