Clinician-Facilitated Physical Activity Intervention Versus Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Improving Physical Activity in COPD: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) may not suit all individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may not result in increased physical activity. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a trial to investigate the effectiveness of a clinician-facilitated physical activity intervention (PAI) versus PR in improving physical activity in patients with COPD referred to PR. In this randomised controlled mixed methods feasibility study, all patients referred to PR who were eligible and willing were assessed at baseline and then randomised to the PAI or to PR. The assessments were repeated post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. The main outcome was step count measured by Actigraph. Semi-structured interviews were conducted post-intervention. The N = 50 patients; mean (SD) age, 64.1(8.6) years, 24M were recruited and randomised; N = 23 (PAI) and n = 26 (PR): one patient was excluded from the analysis as that person did not meet the GOLD diagnostic criteria. Key feasibility criteria were met; recruitment was 11%, dropouts in PAI were 26% (n = 6) and 50% (n = 13/26) PR. Participants in both groups experienced a range of health benefits from their respective programmes. The PAI appears to be effective in increasing step counts in people with COPD: mean change (standard deviation) [confidence interval] for the PAI group was 972.0(3230.3)[–1080.3 to 3024.4], n = 12 and 4.3(662.7)[-440.9 to 449.5], n = 11 for the PR group. The PAI met all domains of fidelity. This study provides key information to inform a future-randomised controlled trial in physical activity.

Keywords:

• Step count
• exercise
• Actigraph

Acknowledgments

The authors thank specifically to Dr Denise Cosgrove, Adrian McDonald and Dr. Catherine Hanratty. They also thank their patient representative (JH) for their valuable input to the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS). PhD student (O’Shea O) was funded by the Department of Employment and Learning. The study was sponsored by the Ulster University and the Western and Belfast Health and Social Care Trusts. The study was supported by the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN) Respiratory Health interest group.