Expectations of Patients Recovering from SARS-CoV-2 towards New Forms of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Mariusz Migała; Bożena Płonka-Syroka; Krystyna Rasławska; Beata Skolik; Izabela Spielvogel; Katarzyna Piechota; Daria Hołodnik; Magdalena Hagner-Derengowska

doi:10.3390/ijerph20010104

Expectations of Patients Recovering from SARS-CoV-2 towards New Forms of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 21;20(1):104. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010104.

Authors

Mariusz Migała^{1

2}, Bożena Płonka-Syroka³, Krystyna Rasławska^{2

4}, Beata Skolik^{2

4}, Izabela Spielvogel¹, Katarzyna Piechota¹, Daria Hołodnik¹, Magdalena Hagner-Derengowska⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, 45-758 Opole, Poland.
² Specialist Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Głuchołazy, 48-340 Głuchołazy, Poland.
³ Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Humanities, Medical University of Piastów Śląskich in Wrocław, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland.
⁴ Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of Applied Sciences in Nysa, 48-300 Nysa, Poland.
⁵ Department of Physical Cultore, University of Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients attending an innovative technology-enhanced pulmonary rehabilitation program of National Health Found Program in Poland. The study included two groups of patients participating in post-COVID-19 stationary rehabilitation. Patients from group I (127 individuals) contracted COVID-19 in 2020, while patients from group II fell ill in 2021 (68 individuals). The study used a self-administered questionnaire. This study was designed as an acceptability study. In the experience related to COVID-19 in both groups of the respondents, the possibility of undertaking inpatient rehabilitation in a hospital ward played an important and positive role. Patients who experienced COVID-19 symptomatically expected that rehabilitation would eliminate the related dysfunctions, such as reduced respiratory efficiency of the lungs, disorders of the nervous system, and cognitive disorders (the so-called brain fog). All respondents who experienced symptomatic COVID-19 positively assessed the rehabilitation program offered. Among the highest-rated rehabilitation, elements were identified: exercise on a cycle ergometer implemented with video stimulation, group fitness exercises, and breathing exercises. Other innovative forms of rehabilitation were positively evaluated by 10% to 25% of patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; convalescence; disability; disease experience; inpatient rehabilitation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Breathing Exercises
COVID-19*
Humans
Lung
Motivation
SARS-CoV-2*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Opole University of Technology, grant number TETA 121/21, titled “Analysis of the experiences of patients in the rehabilitation period related to the COVID-19 disease and assessment of the impact of this disease on the disability of convalescents”.