Using expert patients to co-facilitate an introductory information session: does informed patient choice enhance engagement with pulmonary rehabilitation?

Abstract

Objective: As the pulmonary rehabilitation service has developed, demand on resources has increased. Patient ‘opt-in’ sessions aimed at reducing initial patient assessment Did Not Attend (DNA) rate were introduced. It was also hoped that facilitating informed patient choice would increase programme completion rates.Method: For a period of one year ‘opt-in’ sessions – 30 minute education sessions co-facilitated by ‘expert patients’ explaining the specifics of pulmonary rehabilitation – were introduced. Expert patients are patients who have successfully completed the programme, have shown evidence of fully engaging with self-management and associated maintenance behaviours, and encourage others based on their own lived experiences. Assessment appointment attendance and group completion data were collected and compared for two patient cohorts over a period of 1 year prior to, and post, instigation of the opt-in sessions.Results: Initial assessment appointment DNA rate decreased from 22.4% (original service) to 10.6% (enhanced service) with a net clinical time saving of 66 h. Programme completion rate increased from 50.2% (original service) to 77.0% (enhanced service).Conclusion: The evidence here shows that this simple intervention is associated with improved service efficiency without requiring additional resources. Opt-in sessions could be adopted by other services promoting self-management of long-term conditions.