Abstract
Introduction: There are barriers for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) partaking in Pulmonary Rehabilitation(PR) and a need for the provision of PR in other forms, increasing patient choice and service capacity. Aim: Determine if an interactive web-based PR programme is a feasible alternative to conventional PR. Methods: Patients were randomised to a web programme or a conventional PR programme for 7weeks. Patients had to be willing to partake in either arm, have internet access and be web literate. Standard outcomes for a PR assessment including measures of exercise capacity(shuttle walk tests:SWTs) and quality of life questionnaires(chronic respiratory disease Q–dyspnoea domain:CRQ-D) were evaluated. Patient preference was also recorded. Results: 103 patients were recruited [baseline characteristics table 1]. The largest proportion of patients randomised wanted the web programme(n=38%). A statistically significant improvement(p≤ 0.01) was observed within each group in the ESWT(WEB:mean change 189±211.1;PR classes:mean change 184.5±247.4secs) and CRQ-D(WEB:mean change 0.7±1.2;PR classes:mean change 0.8±1.0). There were no significant differences between the groups in any outcome. Discussion: A web-based PR programme is feasible and acceptable when compared to conventional PR. Future trials maybe around choice based PR enabling stratification of patient care.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK and is characterised by a progressive deterioration of debilitating symptoms and increasingly frequent exacerbations
An interactive web-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme is feasible and acceptable when compared with conventional PR
Ongoing changes and challenges means that the National Health Service (NHS) and the services it provides need to adapt to take advantage of and capitalise on the opportunities that new technologies and treatments can offer to patients.[4]
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK and is characterised by a progressive deterioration of debilitating symptoms and increasingly frequent exacerbations. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been proven to be effective in improving quality of life, psychological functioning and physical activity, and national guidelines recommend that PR should be offered and made available to all those with COPD.[1] The standard provision of PR is a supervised package of exercise and education usually twice a week for a minimum of 6 weeks, which is either hospital or community based, and supported by a home exercise programme.[2] the barriers to uptake of a PR programme have previously been reported[3] which included transport, the perceived benefits of PR, disruption to usual routine and the Chaplin E, et al BMJ Open 2017;7:e013682. A web-based PR programme has the potential to be a novel and effective approach to increasing patient choice in the mode of delivery and setting of rehabilitation (especially to those patients who decline the offer of conventional PR) while simultaneously increasing the capacity of PR
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
