An online intervention to maintain physical activity levels in COPD patients after pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) is an important self-care behavior for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is designed to improve exercise capacity through PA of COPD patients. However, after PR, PA levels often decrease quickly. The aim of this study was to evaluate an online self-regulation intervention to promote maintenance of PA after PR. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with an intervention group (IG; n=20) and a no-intervention control group (CG;n=20). All receive an accelerometer for the entire study period; 2-4 week pre-PR baseline, 8-16 weeks PR, and 8 weeks at home. Only the IG receives the online intervention at home, comprising for example feedback on activity per day, tagging activities carried out per day and active coaching. Patients fill out questionnaires about determinants of health behavior at start PR, end PR and study end. Findings: Currently, 26 patients are enrolled in the study; 15 in IG (mean age 62.7y; 7 males; baseline period PA: 399.3±167.8 Kcal/day), and 11 in CG (mean age 61.1y; 7 males, 457.5±180.8 Kcal/day). On average, participants wear the accelerometer 5-6 (sd=1.7) days/week. At home, IG patients (n=8) tagged on average 10.6 (sd=4.6) activities per day, of which the majority was performed indoors (8.9; sd=4.5). Discussion: COPD patients showed a high compliance to wearing the accelerometer daily, and visiting the coaching-website for identifying their activities. After completion of the trial, statistical analyses will be carried out to study the effect of the intervention on PA and psycho-social situation of patients.