Pulmonary Telerehabilitation for People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Brazil: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study

Luis H G Neves; Carla Malaguti; Marissa R Santos; Laura A Cabral; Laura B D da Silva; Hugo H de Oliveira; Alessa S S Brugiolo; Anderson José; Anne E Holland; Cristino C Oliveira

doi:10.5195/ijt.2023.6555

Pulmonary Telerehabilitation for People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Brazil: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study

Int J Telerehabil. 2023 May 11;15(1):e6555. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2023.6555. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Function Performance, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
² Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

This study assessed the feasibility of pulmonary telerehabilitation‧s (PTR) acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Brazil. It also explored associations with clinical and socioeconomic features of Brazilians with COPD. This mixed-method study included thirty-one participants with COPD (age 62±10 years; FEV₁= 72±14% predicted). Most participants (74.2%) reported good PTR session acceptability on the System Usability Scale and scores of 4.6±0.3 and 4.5±0.6 on a 1-5 Likert-type scale of implementation and practicality, respectively. Participants suggested adaptations for better comfort on the exercise bike and varying exercise modalities. PTR acceptability was associated with participants' younger age (r_s=-0.57, p<0.01) and higher education (r_s=0.51, p<0.01). PTR is feasible for people with COPD in Brazil regarding acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation. Younger age and higher educational level are associated with greater PTR acceptability.

Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Feasibility studies; Telerehabilitation.

Copyright © 2023 Luis H. G. Neves, Carla Malaguti, Marissa R. Santos, Laura A. Cabral, Laura B. D. da Silva, Hugo H. de Oliveira, Alessa S. S. Brugiolo, Anderson José, Anne E. Holland, Cristino C. Oliveira.