Aims: To estimate of uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in New Zealand in 2009.
Method: A postal survey sent to all District Health Boards (DHBs), Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), and other non-government organisations (NGOs) identified as providers of PR. The survey requested information on the characteristics of PR programmes, estimates of the total number of people with COPD who were offered PR, entered PR, and completed PR in 2009.
Results: In 2009 PR was provided in 19 of 21 DHB regions by 23 organisations (16 DHBs, five PHOs, one DHB/PHO partnership, and 1 NGO). Twenty-one of these 23 organisations (91%) responded to the survey. In total, 2569 people with COPD were offered PR, 1786 entered PR, and 1378 completed a PR programme in 2009.
Conclusions: There is a marked shortfall between the national levels of provision of PR and the prevalence of COPD, with less than 1% of people with COPD participating in PR each year in New Zealand. Incentives, leadership and coordination of services are required at a national level to increase the uptake of PR.