Telerehabilitation Approaches in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Patients
Telerehabilitation Approaches in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Patients
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a first-line management strategy in chronic obstructive
 pulmonary patients (COPD) as it reduces shortness of breath, increases exercise capacity, and
 improves health-related quality of life. However, 8-50% of patients referred to PR do not
 participate at all, while 10-32% of those who start do not complete the program. Barriers to
 participation and completion include difficulty in accessing the program, poor mobility, lack
 of transport, and travel costs. Telerehabilitation is defined as the provision of
 rehabilitation services through telecommunication technology, including telephone, internet
 and video conference communications between the patient and the healthcare provider.
 Different technologies (from phone to video conferencing) have been tested in patients with
 COPD to enhance daily activities, exercise training and walking prescription. All of them
 showed positive effects on exercise tolerance, dyspnea, physical activity and quality of
 life. However, there is no study about which telerehabilitation program is more effective on
 COPD patients. The aim of this study is to investigate which telerehabilitation approach is
 more effective in COPD.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Being diagnosed with COPD (FEV1 / FVC <70% in the stable phase of the disease)

 -  Age > 18 years old

 -  Have the ability to use a smartphone

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Musculoskeletal disorders that limit exercise

 -  Dizziness, significant sensory or motor impairments, dementia or terminal illnesses
 that prevent education

 -  Serious comorbidities such as unstable heart disease, irregular diabetes, known
 malignant disease, any other disease that makes the patient unsuitable for
 participation in the study.

 -  Incompatible patient

 -  Severe vision or hearing impairment

 -  Unwillingness or inability to follow the protocol

 -  Have had a COPD exacerbation in the previous 6 weeks