Understanding the complexity of living with, and managing, secretions in motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS/ALS): Protocol for a complex intervention systematic review

Barry, Caroline, Farquhar, Morag, Hawkes, Matthew, Massey, Charlotte and Cross, Jane L. (2025) Understanding the complexity of living with, and managing, secretions in motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS/ALS): Protocol for a complex intervention systematic review. BMJ Open, 15 (10). ISSN 2044-6055

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Abstract

Motor neurone disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MND/ALS) is an incurable disease which leads to muscle weakness that worsens over time. MND/ALS is highly heterogeneous in its presentation, with many people experiencing a rapidly progressive trajectory of symptoms. Many people with living with MND/ALS (plwMND/ALS) experience a combination of flaccidity and spasticity of the muscles involved in speech, swallowing, breathing and coughing. This makes it challenging to deal with the saliva and mucous (“secretions”) produced by the body. Failure to manage these problems effectively can lead to accumulation and aspiration of secretions, which may cause pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency. Knowing the best way to treat this problem is a challenge. Systematic reviews report substantive ongoing uncertainty regarding secretions management (SM). Little is known about the comparative effectiveness of secretion management interventions, their impact on quality of life and acceptability for plwMND/ALS and their unpaid/family.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding: This project is funded by a Motor Neurone Disease Association Health Research Grant, project (project code 2412-794). They were not involved in the development of this protocol.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Dementia & Complexity in Later Life Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2025 11:30
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2025 00:15
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100456
DOI:	10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103704

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