BREATHE – Bushfire smoke, asthma, lung disease and masks

A randomised controlled clinical trial of mask use in control of respiratory outcomes during bushfire season. [This study has CLOSED].

Chest and lungs

This study is now closed. Please refer to our Research Studies page to view our ongoing studies.

Study description/purpose

The aim of this research is to determine whether the use of surgical masks and P2 masks protects people with asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis from the effects of smoke exposure during bushfire season in Australia.

There is no clinical efficacy data to support the choice and use of facemasks, P2 masks or staying indoors for protection against bushfire smoke. The Australian Medical Research Futures Fund has funded this study as part of an urgent call for research into the health effects of bushfires.

Researchers will compare exposure reduction methods, including surgical masks, P2 mask facemasks, and avoiding outdoor activities.

What’s involved

People who consent to be in the study will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: surgical masks, P2 masks or outdoor air avoidance.

If allocated to a mask, they will need to wear a mask when exposed to bushfire smoke. They will be required to fill in a form at the start and the end of the study. Their health will be tracked during a maximum of 4 weeks around controlled backburning between August and November 2023 and through all of December 2023 and January 2024 this summer.

A final period of follow up will occur from 1 April to 30 April 2024.

Participants will receive air quality alerts as a trigger to wear their mask or avoid outdoor activities and fill in a short diary card each day. Masks will be posted to participants.

Disease or condition

Asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis

Recruitment criteria

Adults who have asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis and their suburb is affected by smoke or in a postcode which is identified as potentially exposed to bushfire smoke.

Benefits

Nil

Research team contacts

Dr Elizabeth Kpozehouen

e.kpozehouen@unsw.edu.au

The Join Us Register Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and Elders, past and present.

We acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge and the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters.

We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the many individuals, organisations that have supported and guided us through our journey.

There is a huge opportunity to partner more with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to build on existing community strengths and resilience, often in the face of ongoing inequities. Through Join Us, we will work together in the spirit of reciprocity to address ongoing impacts of colonisation so that we can all realise optimal health and wellbeing.

+61 2 8052 4798

info@joinus.org.au

The Join Us Register is currently funded by the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA).

For more information about ASHRA, click here.

BREATHE – Bushfire smoke, asthma, lung disease and masks

Study description/purpose

What’s involved

Disease or condition

Recruitment criteria

Benefits

Research team contacts

Dr Elizabeth Kpozehouen

Join Us Register

For Participants

For Researchers

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