Activity repertoires and time use in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background

Understanding the dynamics and aspects of how activity choices impact health and well-being in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important to inform rehabilitation.

Aim

To describe, firstly, how much time people living with COPD spend on work, daily living tasks, recreation and rest; secondly, how this population perceived competence, importance and enjoyment related to these activities; thirdly, if differences in such perceptions and time use were associated with the living situation and COPD severity.

Material and methods

This cross-sectional study involved 76 participants (+45 years, COPD, living in ordinary homes), who completed the Occupational Questionnaire (OQ). Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were performed.

Results

Most of the participants’ time were spent on daily living activities and recreational activities. Participants spent approx. 80% of their recorded time in OQ on activities they valued, enjoyed and in which they felt competent. Participants living alone scored significantly lower on enjoyment in restful activities than those living in couples (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in perceived competence, importance or enjoyment was found in relation to COPD severity.

Conclusions and significance

Findings underscore the importance of targeting overall daily activity repertoires including compositions of activity types, time use and perceived competence, importance and enjoyment.

Keywords:

• Activity balance
• activity pattern
• occupational science
• occupational therapy
• rehabilitation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by University College North, Denmark.