CoughHelp

Want help for your chronic cough?

You may be eligible to participate in a new research study testing a safe and non-invasive online treatment for cough. The CoughHelp study may help you get back to doing life without a cough.
If you are a returning user, please "login" to access your treatment modules.

The CoughHelp study was developed by researchers from University of Montana and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The treatment is based on a behavioral (non-medical) therapy for chronic cough delivered by speech-language pathologists. Usually, this treatment is delivered in-person, but CoughHelp brings this treatment to you in an easy-to-use, online platform.

CoughHelp is a voluntary research study with certain requirements to participate. The study has been approved by University of Montana Institutional Review Board and the research team is highly qualified to safely and ethically conduct this study, and keep your information and study data confidential. This study is funded by the Center for Population Health Research at University of Montana with parent funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

About CoughHelp

What is the purpose of this study?

The CoughHelp study is designed to test an online behavioral treatment for chronic cough. If you are eligible and choose to participate, you will be asked to view therapy materials on the study website and practice a few easy exercises for four weeks. You will also be asked to complete brief online questionnaires before, during, and after treatment.

What is involved in the treatment?

You will be asked to watch educational and training videos (about 10 minutes each week) showing you how to do simple exercises to help with your cough, and will practice these a few times each day. You will also complete short questionnaires about your cough a few times during the study.

What are the benefits?

The CoughHelp study is testing a new treatment that may benefit your cough and has the potential to help many other people in the future. There are no significant risks or discomforts to participating. It is free to join and all participants will be paid $40 for completing the study.

What is the time commitment?

Most study procedures take place in six weeks. There is also a very quick survey to take one month after finishing treatment. On average, the weekly time commitment is about one hour or less.

Where can I do the treatment?

The treatment takes place online so you can participate anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Want to learn more and see if you qualify?

Click on "register" above to take our screener and see if you qualify. Please contact us at any time if you have questions about the study or the registration process.

Who can participate in the CoughHelp study?

You may be eligible to participate if the following are true for you:

At least 18 years old.
Able to use a computer or smartphone (e.g., no significant fine motor or visual problems).
Have Internet and e-mail access and the ability to use it.
Suffering from a cough lasting at least eight weeks that is:
- Largely unproductive (cough up no more than a few teaspoons worth of clear or white sputum or mucus in a 24-hour period).
- Triggered by specific things including and not limited to any combination of the following: cold air, talking, laughing, taking a deep breath, exercise, crumbly foods, strong smells or odors, fumes from paint or cleaning sprays.
- Often preceded by the sensation of an urge-to-cough or tickle at the level of the throat.
Self-report of receiving the following assessments for your current cough symptoms with unremarkable results:
- Physical evaluation by at least one physician.
- Chest x-ray.
Willingness to avoid other potential cough treatments during the course of the study (or alert study personnel if alternative treatment is implemented out of necessity).

You are not eligible to participate if the following are true for you:

Current smoker of any substance.
Diagnosis of any of the following:
- Respiratory (breathing) disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma)
- Neurogenic (brain) disease (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular disease)
- Head and neck cancer
Self-report of difficulty swallowing since having chronic cough
Use of the following medication in the past four weeks:
- Benzapril (Lotensin), Captopril (Capoten), Enalapril/Enalaprilat (Vasotec oral and injectable), Fosinopril (Monopril), Lisinopril (Zestril and Prinivil), Moexipril (Univasc), Perindopril (Aceon), Quinapril (Accupril), Ramipril (Altace), and Trandolapril (Mavik).
Use of the following medication in the past 48 hours:
- Neurontin (Gabapentin) and amitriptyline.
Individuals with dysphonia (abnormal voice; either self-reported or perceived by study personnel during enrollment interview) will be excluded unless they have had a normal laryngoscopy (endoscopic assessment of the larynx) by an otolaryngologist (ENT) within the past year specifically for their cough.

What if you cannot join the study?

If, due to these criteria, you are not able to participate in the study, but still feed you need help, we recommend you contact your local health center.

What will you be asked to do?

Sign up by screen and consent form

First, click the "register" button to take our screen and see if you are eligible for the study. If you are eligible, you will be prompted to enter your email address and then complete the consent form.

Talk to research team member

If you meet study inclusion and exclusion criteria and consent to participate, we will contact you to schedule a 15-20-minute meeting via healthcare-Zoom or telephone.

Answer questions before treatment

After the set up meeting, you will be asked to complete a few surveys on the website about your cough before you begin the treatment.

Participate in treatment

You will be randomized (50/50 chance) to the treatment or non-treatment group (this is commonly done in research to test how a new treatment works compared to a control group). You will not know which group you are in until the study is over.
If you were in the non-treatment group you are eligible to receive the real treatment at no cost after the study. The treatment (and non-treatment) phase runs for four consecutive weeks. You will watch educational and training videos and perform training exercises. These activities will take about one hour total each week.

Answer questions during and after treatment

You will complete a few surveys on the website about your cough while you are receiving the treatment and in the weeks after completing treatment. Some participants will be asked to participate in a short conversation with a research team member about their experience with the treatment.

Optional: cough counting with Hyfe Research app

There is an option to help us study how a cough counting app works. If you choose to participate in this we will send you a loaner smartwatch to use and help you set it up.