Clinical Research Directory

Using Community Health Workers to Support Rural Care Partners of Seriously Ill Older Veterans

The investigators aim to support care partner's well-being and satisfaction with VA care and decrease their work burden by offering extra support from a trained Community Health Worker who will help connect the care partner to helpful resources in their communities and in the VA. The investigators also hope to help Veterans well-being and satisfaction with VA care by supporting their care partner more sufficiently allowing the care partner to focus on caregiving tasks.

FCV Vs VCV in Obstructive and Asthmatic Patients

The goal of this physiological pilot study with a randomized crossover design is to study the effect of Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) on the minute volume compared to Volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) in intubated patients with an exacerbation of their asthma or COPD. Our hypothesis is that FCV will results in a lower minute volume compared to VCV in this patient category. Patients will be randomized between two ventilation sequences, namely 90 minutes of FCV followed by 90 minutes of VCV or vice versa.

Measurement of Viscoelastic Properties of Bronchopulmonary Secretions.

The study is experimental and aims to (a) compare the viscoelastic properties of bronchial secretions obtained in patients suffering from obstructive respiratory disease, and (b) to compare the viscoelastic properties of bronchial secretions obtained in patients before and after application of a respiratory physiotherapy or exercise as usually prescribed. After agreement, the sputum of the participants will be collected according to the method used in clinical routine.Experiments (collection and analysis of sputum) will be conducted at the Saint-Luc University Clinic.