A Home-Based Multimedia Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Improves Clinical Symptoms and Physical Performance of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation can decrease symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation by instructive multimedia in the form of videos and flip charts on clinical symptoms and exercise performance in COPD patients. An eight-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program was performed with twenty COPD patients older than 60 years of age with moderate to severe stages. They were separated into two groups: a multimedia group (n = 10) and a control group, which was only provided with telephone monitoring (n = 10). Clinical symptoms were measured by using the clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ), and exercise performance was measured using a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and an upper-lower limb muscle strengthening test. After 8 weeks, the results showed that both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in the CCQ (p < 0.05). The multimedia group showed a statistically significant increase in the lower-limb muscle strengthening (p < 0.05), while the control group was not found to show a statistically significant increase in the lower-limb muscle strengthening. Therefore, a pulmonary rehabilitation program using multimedia at home can lessen symptoms and improve exercise performance in COPD patients.

Characteristics, Components, and Efficacy of Telerehabilitation Approaches for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Twenty trials provided an individual rehabilitation setting [ 8 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ] while the rest of the trials [ 40 , 41 ] were in a group setting. Two trials [ 8 , 39 ] tested the maintenance effect of the TR intervention for the continuity of care after discharge from the clinic.…”

“…Two trials [ 8 , 39 ] tested the maintenance effect of the TR intervention for the continuity of care after discharge from the clinic. Nine studies presented a unidimensional target (exercise training) [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 37 , 39 ] while thirteen studies a multi-dimensional one [ 8 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 41 ]. The treatment dose (FITT descriptors) was widely heterogeneous: (a) (T) the minimum duration was 6 weeks [ 26 ] versus a maximum of 52 weeks of treatment [ 8 , 24 ]; (b) (F) the frequency varied from 7 rehabilitation sessions per day [ 30 ] to 1 session per week [ 41 ]; (c) (T) time per session ranged from 10–20 [ 37 ] to 120 min [ 38 ]; and (d) (I) the intensity was set based on several modalities: Borg scale [ 23 , 27 , 29 , 33 , 40 ], step count [ 34 ], heart rate [ 22 , 25 ], Pi max [ 24 , 28 , 30 ], or with a fixed incremental method [ 26 ] ( Table 3 ).…”

“…Model : Nineteen studies presented an asynchronous [ 8 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 ] while three works presented a synchronous model [ 33 , 34 , 40 ].…”

“…Assessment and Monitoring : All studies except Kawagoshi et al [ 24 ] included the monitoring of the rehabilitation at a distance using videoconference software [ 33 , 40 ], web-based platforms or applications [ 8 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 ], or devices, such as the pedometer (e.g., [ 27 , 32 ]), heart monitor [ 22 ], and breathing trainer device [ 23 , 28 , 30 ].…”

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation performed through exercise training for patients with stable COPD: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…For example, PR-ET, which is performed partly under professional supervision and partly without, increases tolerance to exercise ( 37 ). The use of multimedia in the home-based PR also improves exercise performance in COPD patients ( 58 ). Certain forms of home-based PR-ET may facilitate the maintenance of benefits acquired in outpatients PR ( 59 ).…”