Evaluation of a novel concentrated interdisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Protocol for a non-randomized clinical intervention study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pulmonary rehabilitation is demonstrated to be a highly effective treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the availability is scarce worldwide, and new and innovative rehabilitation models are highly warranted. Recently, the group behind this study published a protocol describing a novel concentrated and interdisciplinary group rehabilitation program for patients with chronic illnesses. The current paper describes an extension of this protocol to patients with COPD. OBJECTIVE The aim with this study is to explore the acceptability of concentrated interdisciplinary group rehabilitation for patients with COPD. The intervention is expected to improve functional status and to be highly acceptable to the patients. METHODS Fifty patients aged >40 years, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of COPD: a forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) < 80% of expected and a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) below the lower limit of normal of the global lung function initiative (GLI), will be included. An interdisciplinary team consisting of physician and physiotherapists with speciality in pulmonary disorders, psychologist, pharmacist, clinical nutritionist, and nurse will deliver the treatment to groups of 6-10 patients during four consecutive days with 12 months follow-up. The intervention is divided into three distinct phases: 1) pre-treatment preparation for change, 2) concentrated rehabilitation where the patient is coached to focus on making health-promoting micro-choices, and 3) integration of the changes into everyday living aided by digital follow-up and two on-site clinical examinations. RESULTS The recruitment period will last from April 2022 until June 2023. CONCLUSIONS If successful, this highly novel rehabilitation-format might change the way we deliver care for patients with COPD with substantial societal and socio-economic gains. The study will expand the knowledge of the concentrated treatment format as a rehabilitation model for people with COPD. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05234281 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05234281?term=concentrated+rehabilitation&cntry=NO&draw=2&rank=2 Western Norway Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK 2020/101638)