Multitask protocols to evaluate activities of daily living performance in people with COPD: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue, which hinder their performance in activities of daily living (ADL). A few multitask protocols have been developed to assess ADL performance in this population, although measurement properties of such protocols were not yet systematically reviewed.

Areas covered: Studies were included if an assessment of the ability to perform ADL was conducted in people with COPD using a (objective) performance-based protocol. The search was conducted in the following databases: Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL and LILACS. Furthermore, hand searches were conducted.

Expert commentary: Up to this moment, only three protocols had measurement properties described: the Glittre ADL Test, the Monitored Functional Task Evaluation and the Londrina ADL Protocol were shown to be valid and reliable whereas only the Glittre ADL Test was shown to be responsive to change after pulmonary rehabilitation. These protocols can be used in laboratory settings and clinical practice to evaluate ADL performance in people with COPD, although there is need for more in-depth information on their validity, reliability and especially responsiveness due to the growing interest in the accurate assessment of ADL performance in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• activities of daily living
• aging
• motor activity
• chronic limitation of activity

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.

Notes on contributors

Thaís Paes

Thaís Paes: literature search, data collection, study design, analysis of data, manuscript preparation, review of manuscript.

Felipe Vilaça Cavallari Machado

Felipe Vilaça Cavallari Machado: literature search, data collection, study design, analysis of data, manuscript preparation, review of manuscript.

Vinícius Cavalheri

Vinícius Cavalheri: data collection, study design, review of manuscript.

Fabio Pitta

Fabio Pitta: study design, analysis of data, review of manuscript.

Nidia Aparecida Hernandes

Nidia Aparecida Hernandes: study design, analysis of data, review of manuscript.