Digital habits of pulmonary rehabilitation service-users following the COVID-19 pandemic

Remote pulmonary rehabilitation for interstitial lung disease: developing the model using experience-based codesign

BACKGROUND

Remote delivery may improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Existing studies are largely limited to individuals with COPD, and the interventions have lacked codesign elements to reflect the needs and experiences of people with chronic respiratory disease, their carers/families and healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was, using experience-based codesign (EBCD), to collaborate with people with interstitial lung disease (ILD), their carers/families and healthcare professionals, to codesign a remote PR programme ready for testing in a future study.

METHODS

EBCD comprises interviews, stakeholder workshops and codesign meetings. One-to-one videorecorded interviews with purposively selected people with ILD with experience of PR, their carers/families and healthcare professionals, were edited into a 20 min film. The film was shown at three audiorecorded stakeholder feedback events to identify key themes and touchpoints, and short-list key programme components. The programme was finalised at two further codesign workshops.

RESULTS

Ten people with ILD, four carers/families and seven healthcare professionals were interviewed. Participants in the codesign workshops included service-user group: n=14 and healthcare professional group: n=11; joint event: n=21. Final refinements were made with small codesign teams, one comprising three people with ILD and one carer/family member, one with five healthcare professionals. The final codesigned model is a group based, supervised programme delivered by videoconference. Key elements of programme specific to ILD include recommendations to ensure participant safety in the context of desaturation risk, dedicated time for peer support and adaption of the education programme for ILD needs, including signposting to palliative care.

CONCLUSION

In this EBCD project, a remote PR programme for people with ILD was codesigned by service-users, their carers/families and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. Future research should explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention.

Rapid real-world implementation of pulmonary telerehabilitation: good fortune or COVID-19 luck?

"Real-world" telerehabilitation achieves clinically meaningful outcomes for patients and may improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation, but implementation into practice may have been aided by COVID-19-related support for telehealth https://bit.ly/3NqYdCC.

Views and experiences of healthcare practitioners supporting people with COPD who have used activity monitors: "More than just steps"

INTRODUCTION

Activity monitors (apps and wearables) are increasingly used by the general population, including people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). There is potential for activity monitors to support increases in physical activity for people with COPD and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) are likely to be key in supporting their use, but little is currently known about HCPs' views or experiences. This qualitative research aimed to explore HCPs' views and experiences of supporting people with COPD who have used activity monitors.

METHODS

Seventeen semi-structured telephone or online interviews were conducted with HCPs between September 2020 and May 2021. HCPs included two nurses, an occupational therapist, a physician, and 13 physiotherapists. Participants were recruited via social media advertisements. They all had experience of supporting people with COPD who had used activity monitors. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

Four themes were developed highlighting the challenges and benefits of HCPs supporting patients with using activity monitors and utilising patient-collected activity data; 1) Skills and experience are needed to increase accessibility and engagement, 2) Objectively monitored physical activity can support exercise prescription, 3) Applications of activity monitors vary across different settings, and 4) Support is needed for future use of activity monitors.

DISCUSSION

HCPs recognised the potential for activity monitors to impact patients' ability to self-manage their COPD. However, there is a lack of guidance and information to support integration within practice. Future research is needed to co-develop information and guidelines for people with COPD and HCPs.

Telerehabilitation in pulmonary diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Telerehabilitation is an alternative delivery model for pulmonary rehabilitation, an evidence-based nonpharmacological intervention, in people with chronic pulmonary disease. This review synthesizes current evidence regarding the telerehabilitation model for pulmonary rehabilitation with an emphasis on its potential and implementation challenges, as well as the clinical experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RECENT FINDINGS

Different models of telerehabilitation for delivering pulmonary rehabilitation exist. Current studies comparing telerehabilitation to centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation primarily focus on the evaluation in people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which demonstrated equivalent improvements in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and symptoms with improved programme completion rates. Although telerehabilitation may improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation by addressing travel burden, improving schedule flexibility and geographic disparity, there are challenges of ensuring satisfaction of healthcare interactions and delivering core components of initial patient assessment and exercise prescription remotely.

SUMMARY

Further evidence is needed on the role of telerehabilitation in various chronic pulmonary diseases, as well as the effectiveness of different modalities in delivering telerehabilitation programmes. Economic and implementation evaluation of currently available and emerging models of telerehabilitation in delivering pulmonary rehabilitation are needed to ensure sustainable adoption into clinical management for people with chronic pulmonary disease.

Rehabilitation for People with Respiratory Disease and Frailty: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report

People with respiratory disease have increased risk of developing frailty, which is associated with worse health outcomes. There is growing evidence of the role of rehabilitation in managing frailty in people with respiratory disease. However, several challenges remain regarding optimal methods of identifying frailty and delivering rehabilitation for this population. The aims of this American Thoracic Society workshop were to outline key definitions and concepts around rehabilitation for people with respiratory disease and frailty, synthesize available evidence, and explore how programs may be adapted to align to the needs and experiences of this population. Across two half-day virtual workshops, 20 professionals from diverse disciplines, professions, and countries discussed key developments and identified opportunities for future research, with additional input via online correspondence. Participants highlighted a "frailty rehabilitation paradox" whereby pulmonary rehabilitation can effectively reduce frailty, but programs are challenging for some individuals with frailty to complete. Frailty should not limit access to rehabilitation; instead, the identification of frailty should prompt comprehensive assessment and tailored support, including onward referral for additional specialist input. Exercise prescriptions that explicitly consider symptom burden and comorbidities, integration of additional geriatric or palliative care expertise, and/or preemptive planning for disruptions to participation may support engagement and outcomes. To identify and measure frailty in people with respiratory disease, tools should be selected on the basis of sensitivity, specificity, responsiveness, and feasibility for their intended purpose. Research is required to expand understanding beyond the physical dimensions of frailty and to explore the merits and limitations of telerehabilitation or home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for people with chronic respiratory disease and frailty.

COPD: Providing the right treatment for the right patient at the right time

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality that is both preventable and treatable. However, a major challenge in recognizing, preventing, and treating COPD is understanding its complexity. While COPD has historically been characterized as a disease defined by airflow limitation, we now understand it as a multi-component disease with many clinical phenotypes, systemic manifestations, and associated co-morbidities. Evidence is rapidly emerging in our understanding of the many factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD and the identification of "early" or "pre-COPD" which should provide exciting opportunities for early treatment and disease modification. In addition to breakthroughs in our understanding of the origins of COPD, we are optimizing treatment strategies and delivery of care that are showing impressive benefits in patient-centered outcomes and healthcare utilization. This special issue of Respiratory Medicine, "COPD: Providing the Right Treatment for the Right Patient at the Right Time" is a summary of the proceedings of a conference held in Stresa, Italy in April 2022 that brought together international experts to discuss emerging evidence in COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in honor of a distinguished friend and colleague, Claudio Ferdinando Donor (1948-2021). Claudio was a true pioneer in the field of pulmonary rehabilitation and the comprehensive care of individuals with COPD. He held numerous leadership roles in in the field, provide editorial stewardship of several respiratory journals, authored numerous papers, statement and guidelines in COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and provided mentorship to many in our field. Claudio's most impressive talent was his ability to organize spectacular conferences and symposia that highlighted cutting edge science and clinical medicine. It is in this spirit that this conference was conceived and planned. These proceedings are divided into 4 sections which highlight crucial areas in the field of COPD: (1) New concepts in COPD pathogenesis; (2) Enhancing outcomes in COPD; (3) Non-pharmacologic management of COPD; and (4) Optimizing delivery of care for COPD. These presentations summarize the newest evidence in the field and capture lively discussion on the exciting future of treating this prevalent and impactful disease. We thank each of the authors for their participation and applaud their efforts toward pushing the envelope in our understanding of COPD and optimizing care for these patients. We believe that this edition is a most fitting tribute to a dear colleague and friend and will prove useful to students, clinicians, and researchers as they continually strive to provide the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. It has been our pleasure and a distinct honor to serve as editors and oversee such wonderful scholarly work.

Symptoms burden and rehabilitation preference after an episode of COVID-19: A patients survey

BACKGROUND

After COVID-19 infection, individuals can experience a variety of symptoms that might require further treatment. Early data showed the value of adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and technology-based interventions. To develop appropriate services, it is important to understand the symptom burden and the preferred mode of rehabilitation delivery.

METHODS

Post-hospital discharge (H) and post-community-managed (C) individuals received a follow-up call. A survey was completed to assess the most burdensome symptoms for which the patients would require support and their preference for the mode of rehabilitation delivery.

RESULTS

Overall, 160 individuals who received a follow-up call completed the survey (51.2% male, mean [SD] age 54 [15] years) and 126 (78.8%) were post-hospital, while 34 (21.3%) had community-managed infections. A total of 101 (63.1%) reported that COVID-19-related symptoms were affecting their daily activities, and 106 (66.3%) reported their desire to be more active. The most common symptoms identified as needing support were fatigue and shortness of breath. Both groups expressed a preference for a face-to-face group programme (C: 54.8%; H: 46.8%), while (38.7%) of post-community-managed individuals and (40.3%) post-hospital patients preferred a supported digital rehabilitation programme. Few opted a non-digital home-based programme (C: 3.2%; H:12.9%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The survey responses indicated a significant symptom burden that may benefit from an intervention such as rehabilitation. Preferences for rehabilitation indicated that a face-to-face intervention was preferred by the majority, with a large proportion preferring digital intervention.

Competencies required by patients and health professionals regarding telerehabilitation: A scoping review

Background

Telerehabilitation offers patients alternative access to therapy and has become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increasing attractiveness of such programs, there are research gaps regarding the required competencies in the demand-oriented technology use in rehabilitative care.

Objective

The study aims at collecting evidence on competencies required by patients and health professionals for using telerehabilitation. We analyse tasks and requirements associated with telerehabilitation and derive and systematise relevant competencies.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review and analysed MEDLINE, Psyndex, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for empirical studies and grey literature from 2017 to May 2022. Articles had to be in English/German and refer to medical rehabilitation accompanied by health professionals taking place in the patient's home.

Results

One hundred ten articles were included, covering video conferencing systems, applications with video, audio, or visual therapy content, or wearables. Depending on the program, tasks before, during, and after therapy sessions differ, as do whether these are performed by health professionals, patients, or the technology. Users need digital, health-related, social, personal, and health professionals also professional competencies. This comprises telerehabilitation, technical, health-related, and clinical knowledge, a range of physical, cognitive, social-interactive, technical, and clinical skills, a positive attitude towards telerehabilitation and experience. Whether sociodemographic factors promote successful use is unclear.

Conclusions

Telerehabilitation requires a variety of different competencies from patients and health professionals - going beyond the sphere of technical skills. This highlights the need for an evaluation of existing programs for promoting competencies in the use of telerehabilitation and refinement of the programs in line with demands.

"The whole of humanity has lungs, doesn't it? We are not all the same sort of people": patient preferences and choices for an online, self-guided chronic breathlessness supportive intervention: SELF-BREATHE

Introduction

The burden of chronic breathlessness on individuals, family, society and health systems is significant and set to increase exponentially with an ageing population with complex multimorbidity, yet there is a lack of services. This has been further amplified by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Online breathlessness interventions have been proposed to fill this gap, but need development and evaluation based on patient preferences and choices. This study aimed to explore the preferences and choices of patients regarding the content of an online self-guided chronic breathlessness supportive intervention (SELF-BREATHE).

Methods

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with adults living with advanced malignant and nonmalignant disease and chronic breathlessness (July to November 2020). Interviews were analysed using conventional and summative content analysis.

Results

25 patients with advanced disease and chronic breathlessness (COPD n=13, lung cancer n=8, interstitial lung disease n=3, bronchiectasis n=1; 17 male; median (range) age 70 (47-86) years; median (range) Medical Research Council dyspnoea score 3 (2-5)) were interviewed. Individuals highlighted strong preferences for focused education, methods to increase self-motivation and engagement, interventions targeting breathing and physical function, software capability to personalise the content of SELF-BREATHE to make it more meaningful to the user, and aesthetically designed content using various communication methods including written, video and audio content. Furthermore, they identified the need to address motivation as a key potential determinant of the success of SELF-BREATHE.

Conclusion

Our findings provide an essential foundation for future digital intervention development (SELF-BREATHE) and scaled research.

Telemedicine and virtual respiratory care in the era of COVID-19

The World Health Organization defines telemedicine as “an interaction between a health care provider and a patient when the two are separated by distance”. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a dramatic shift to telephone and video consulting for follow up and routine ambulatory care for reasons of infection control. Short Message Service (“text”) messaging has proved a useful adjunct to remote consulting allowing transfer of photographs and documents. Maintaining non-communicable diseases care is a core component of pandemic preparedness and telemedicine has developed to enable (for example) remote monitoring of sleep apnoea, telemonitoring of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, digital support for asthma self-management, remote delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation. There are multiple exemplars of telehealth instigated rapidly to provide care for people with COVID-19, to manage the spread of the pandemic, or to maintain safe routine diagnostic or treatment services.

Despite many positive examples of equivalent functionality and safety, there remain questions about the impact of remote delivery of care on rapport and the longer-term impact on patient/professional relationships. Although telehealth has the potential to contribute to universal health coverage by providing cost-effective accessible care, there is a risk of increasing social health inequalities if the “digital divide” excludes those most in need of care. As we emerge from the pandemic, the balance of remote versus face-to-face consulting, and the specific role of digital health in different clinical and healthcare contexts will evolve. What is clear is that telemedicine in one form or another will be part of the “new norm”.

Inequality in Pulmonary Rehabilitation - The challenges magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has served to expose and amplify existing inequalities in chronic respiratory disease and the social determinants of health. In this article, we summarise evidence of existing disparities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary rehabilitation; highlighting limitations of existing data. To reduce health inequalities in pulmonary rehabilitation, there is a need to identify and target factors influencing fair access and personal agency to engage. With consideration of the influence of culture on beliefs, expectations and health behaviours, we propose a renewed approach toward progressively achieving health equity in pulmonary rehabilitation based on principles of cultural safety and adaptation. This is a key priority in improving the quality of life of people living with chronic respiratory disease. Building comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation service delivery models based on an understanding of the holistic needs of the local population should be a priority for service providers and researchers.

Listen to Me! - A Mixed-Methods Study of Thoughts and Attitudes Towards Participation in Pulmonary Telerehabilitation Among People with Severe and Very Severe COPD Who Declined Participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a key standard treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with documented effect on symptom relief, improved physical function, and quality of life. However, referral, uptake and adherence rates remain low. Pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) is a safe and effective alternative to conventional PR. This study explores associations, thoughts and attitudes towards PTR in patients with COPD who decline referral to outpatient hospital-based routine PR.

METHODS

A mixed-methods study with integration of survey data (n=84) and semi-structured interviews (n=9).

RESULTS

We found a significant association between belief of effect of PTR and willingness to participate. Increasing age was significantly associated with reduced odds of daily use of central processing unit (CPU) or tablet. One-third of the participants were undecided about potential participation in PTR. Qualitative findings highlight that participants perceived participating in PTR as more convenient and had preferences for individualized, supervised, and monitored rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

Those willing to participate in a PTR program believed in the benefits, were comfortable with technological devices, had preferences for exercising at home, and saw opportunities in the social setting. Future PTR programs should include monitoring, preferably managed by a familiar health care professional (HCP).