AsthmaNCT06097507
Patient Perspective on Climate Impact of Inhalers
A study testing Educational intervention in people with Asthma, run by McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The effects of climate change on population health have considerably increased as the planet warms and is thus subjected to more heat waves, extreme weather events and food insecurity. Paradoxically, healthcare systems are major contributors to carbon emissions. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Asthma
- What is being tested?
- Educational intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 7 Nov 2023to 1 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years of age or older
- Followed in the asthma clinic at the Montreal Chest Institute or the Montreal General Hospital.
- Confirmed diagnosis of asthma presenting for a follow up visit for their asthma (defined as positive methacholine challenge test or confirmed reversibility of lung function 12% increase FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) or 200ml absolute value increase post bronchodilator).
- On an inhaled steroid for the treatment of asthma for maintenance as well as Ventolin MDI as a rescue inhaler.
- Stable asthma -not currently being evaluated for an acute asthma exacerbation and no Emergency Room visits for asthma within the last 30 days.
- Adequate lung function with a FEV1 of at least 50% and, where available, a peak inspiratory flow (PIF) of under 60L/m for use of a DPI and MDI.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Patient and Prescriber Perspective on Climate Impact of Inhalers in the Treatment of Asthma
The effects of climate change on population health have considerably increased as the planet warms and is thus subjected to more heat waves, extreme weather events and food insecurity. Paradoxically, healthcare systems are major contributors to carbon emissions.
Within the field of respirology, choice of inhaler is a low-hanging fruit to address this issue. Metered dose inhalers (MDI) contain potent greenhouse gases and have been shown to have a significantly larger carbon footprint than dry powder inhalers (DPI).
The goal of the study is to assess asthma patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons as well as prescribers' willingness to prescribe a different inhaler for environmental reasons at the patient's request. The study will also be assessing patient awareness of the climate impact of inhalers and the importance that they attribute to this issue as well as other issues (cost and ease of use).
Read the detailed description
The effects of climate change on population health have considerably increased as the planet warms and is thus subjected to more heat waves, extreme weather events and food insecurity. Paradoxically, healthcare systems are major contributors to carbon emissions.
Within the field of respirology, choice of inhaler is a low-hanging fruit to address this issue. Metered dose inhalers (MDI) contain potent greenhouse gases and have been shown to have a significantly larger carbon footprint than dry powder inhalers (DPI).
Studies from the United Kingdom have revealed that although patient awareness of the discrepancy in climate impact of inhalers is low, their willingness to change inhalers after being educated on the subject is high.
An example of inhaler change is to use the Bricanyl Turbuhaler (terbutaline) instead of Ventolin (salbutamol) as a rescue medication in asthma. They are both short-acting bronchodilators (SABA) and have similar pharmacodynamics. However, use of Bricanyl for one year produces 7,183 kgCO2e or the equivalent of 59.9km by car, whereas use of Ventolin for one year produces 411,720 kgCO2e, the equivalent of 3,431 km by car.
The goal of the study is to assess asthma patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons as well as prescribers' willingness to prescribe a different inhaler for environmental reasons at the patient's request. The study will also be assessing patient awareness of the climate impact of inhalers and the importance that they attribute to this issue as well as other issues (cost and ease of use).
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Being tested
- Educational intervention
- Keywords
- Asthma, Inhalers, Environment, Climate impact
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Educational interventionBehavioural
The consented patients will be given an information packet containing an infographic about the climate impact of inhalers, a letter explaining the option of changing inhalers (which clearly outlines that the Bricanyl Turbuhaler will not cost them more money than the Ventolin) and a pre-filled prescription for Bricanyl Turbuhaler.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma patients | Experimental | Low risk educational intervention. The consented patients will be given an information packet containing an infographic about the climate impact of inhalers, a letter explaining the option of changing inhalers (which clearly outlines that the Bricanyl Turbuhaler will not cost them more money than the Ventolin) and a pre-filled prescription for Bricanyl Turbuhaler.
Also 5 selected asthma providers will be asked to fill a questionnaire on their perspectives on the climate impact of inhalers and their approach to inhaler rotation. This may also be supplemented with a phone interview Receives: Behavioral: Educational intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Rotation of Ventolin MDI to Bricanyl Turbuhaler.
Proportion of participants who changed their inhaler from Ventolin MDI to Bricanyl Turbuhaler within 30 days of study visit.
Measured: 30 days
Secondary outcomes (5)
Rate of failure of the intervention
defined as a rotation back from Bricanyl to Ventolin MDI within 90 days after the clinic
Measured: 90 days
Proportion of patients who filled Bricanyl Rx change
Proportion of patients who filled Bricanyl Rx change with pharmacist within 30 days of the clinic but did not possess the medication (30 day medication possession ratio)
Measured: 30 days
Awareness of patients regarding the climate impact of inhalers
Awareness of patients regarding the climate impact of inhalers defined by questionnaire data, using a 5 point likert scale (from "not at all aware" to "extremely aware")
Measured: Baseline
Patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons
Patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons and the importance of different issues (environmental impact, cost, ease of use) for patients, using 3 different 5 point likert scale, one for each sub-category)
Measured: Baseline
Providers' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons
Providers' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons and the importance of different issues (environmental impact, cost, ease of use) for patients.
This will be assessed through 5 different 5 points likert scale, as well as with a phone interview.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Oct 2023
- Study start7 Nov 2023
- Primary completion1 Jun 2024
- Study completion1 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AsthmaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health CentreThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nicole Ezer, MD, FRCPC, MPH, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06097507
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-10072
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 11 Oct 2023
- Last updated
- 11 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Patient and Prescriber Perspective on Climate Impact of Inhalers in the Treatment of Asthma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06097507
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024-10072
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Keywords
- Asthma, Inhalers, Environment, Climate impact
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health CentreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The effects of climate change on population health have considerably increased as the planet warms and is thus subjected to more heat waves, extreme weather events and food insecurity. Paradoxically, healthcare systems are major contributors to carbon emissions.
Within the field of respirology, choice of inhaler is a low-hanging fruit to address this issue. Metered dose inhalers (MDI) contain potent greenhouse gases and have been shown to have a significantly larger carbon footprint than dry powder inhalers (DPI).
The goal of the study is to assess asthma patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons as well as prescribers' willingness to prescribe a different inhaler for environmental reasons at the patient's request. The study will also be assessing patient awareness of the climate impact of inhalers and the importance that they attribute to this issue as well as other issues (cost and ease of use).
Detailed description
The effects of climate change on population health have considerably increased as the planet warms and is thus subjected to more heat waves, extreme weather events and food insecurity. Paradoxically, healthcare systems are major contributors to carbon emissions.
Within the field of respirology, choice of inhaler is a low-hanging fruit to address this issue. Metered dose inhalers (MDI) contain potent greenhouse gases and have been shown to have a significantly larger carbon footprint than dry powder inhalers (DPI).
Studies from the United Kingdom have revealed that although patient awareness of the discrepancy in climate impact of inhalers is low, their willingness to change inhalers after being educated on the subject is high.
An example of inhaler change is to use the Bricanyl Turbuhaler (terbutaline) instead of Ventolin (salbutamol) as a rescue medication in asthma. They are both short-acting bronchodilators (SABA) and have similar pharmacodynamics. However, use of Bricanyl for one year produces 7,183 kgCO2e or the equivalent of 59.9km by car, whereas use of Ventolin for one year produces 411,720 kgCO2e, the equivalent of 3,431 km by car.
The goal of the study is to assess asthma patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons as well as prescribers' willingness to prescribe a different inhaler for environmental reasons at the patient's request. The study will also be assessing patient awareness of the climate impact of inhalers and the importance that they attribute to this issue as well as other issues (cost and ease of use).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma patients | Experimental | Behavioral: Educational interventionLow risk educational intervention. The consented patients will be given an information packet containing an infographic about the climate impact of inhalers, a letter explaining the option of changing inhalers (which clearly outlines that the Bricanyl Turbuhaler will not cost them more money than the Ventolin) and a pre-filled prescription for Bricanyl Turbuhaler. Also 5 selected asthma providers will be asked to fill a questionnaire on their perspectives on the climate impact of inhalers and their approach to inhaler rotation. This may also be supplemented with a phone interview |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 18 years of age or older
- Followed in the asthma clinic at the Montreal Chest Institute or the Montreal General Hospital.
- Confirmed diagnosis of asthma presenting for a follow up visit for their asthma (defined as positive methacholine challenge test or confirmed reversibility of lung function 12% increase FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) or 200ml absolute value increase post bronchodilator).
- On an inhaled steroid for the treatment of asthma for maintenance as well as Ventolin MDI as a rescue inhaler.
- Stable asthma -not currently being evaluated for an acute asthma exacerbation and no Emergency Room visits for asthma within the last 30 days.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Educational interventionThe consented patients will be given an information packet containing an infographic about the climate impact of inhalers, a letter explaining the option of changing inhalers (which clearly outlines that the Bricanyl Turbuhaler will not cost them more money than the Ventolin) and a pre-filled prescription for Bricanyl Turbuhaler. | Behavioural | Asthma patients |
Primary outcome
Rotation of Ventolin MDI to Bricanyl Turbuhaler.
Time frame: 30 days
Proportion of participants who changed their inhaler from Ventolin MDI to Bricanyl Turbuhaler within 30 days of study visit.
5 secondary outcomes
Rate of failure of the intervention
Time frame: 90 days
Proportion of patients who filled Bricanyl Rx change
Time frame: 30 days
Awareness of patients regarding the climate impact of inhalers
Time frame: Baseline
Patients' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons
Time frame: Baseline
Providers' willingness to change inhalers for environmental reasons
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Educational intervention in people with Asthma, run by McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Rotation of Ventolin MDI to Bricanyl Turbuhaler. (time frame: 30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Aug 2025.