Information for participants

What is BreatheMOR-HF?

BreatheMOR-HF is a medical trial. Its aim is to find out whether morphine (a commonly used strong painkiller) taken daily as a capsule can help reduce symptoms of breathlessness in patients who are suffering from chronic heart failure (this is when the heart is not working as efficiently as it used to).

Patients who agree to take part in this study will be asked to take either a dose of morphine twice a day or a placebo (a pill which looks the same but which contains no medicines). This will allow researchers to compare the effects of the morphine on symptoms of breathlessness.

The trial aims to look at both how effective the morphine is, but also if the benefits are worth the financial cost.

Who is taking part in the BreatheMOR-HF study?

Men and women of all different ages, who have breathlessness caused by heart failure are taking part in the study. The researchers aim to recruit 346 patients from the various hospitals which are listed below.

Where will patients be recruited from?

Patients will be recruited from hospitals in the following areas:

Chesterfield
Darlington
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Huddersfield
Hull
Kent
Leicester
Manchester
Oldham
Oxford
Peterborough
Poole
Scarborough
Southampton

How will information obtained in this research be used?

The results of this trial will help doctors decide if morphine can be used to relieve the symptoms of breathlessness in people with heart failure. This means that in the future, people who are suffering with this illness may get better treatment. If the trial finds that morphine does not work to make these symptoms better, other treatments can be looked at and resources can be saved.

The results of the trial will be published in a medical journal so that other health professionals can learn from, and build on, the knowledge that this trial has uncovered.

Will my details be kept confidential?

Yes. All information gathered as part of the trial will be treated in the strictest confidence. Patients’ names will not be included in any publications which come from the trial and we will make sure that people cannot be identified from any details in any reports of the trial’s results.

Some patients may choose to give permission for us to share some information with other researchers who are looking at similar health issues, but this will not include your name or other identifying details.

Do I have to take part in the study?

No. You do not have to take part in the study and can opt out at any time. Please ensure that you let us know and seek medical advice before you do so.

Who is organising and funding the research?

The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is taking overall responsibility for the study. It is funded by the British Heart Foundation (grant number BHF Clinical Study CS/13/2/30584).

The research team is led by Prof Miriam Johnson, Professor in Palliative Medicine at Hull York Medical School, the University of Hull and Consultant at St Catherine’s Hospice, Scarborough.

The trial is managed by the York Trials Unit based in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York.