ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective treatment for people with chronic respiratory disease but is delivered to <5% of eligible individuals. Home-based telerehabilitation achieves similar clinical outcomes to centre-based PR in clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implementation of telerehabilitation. Method(s): Suitable individuals with respiratory disease referred for PR at Alfred Health have been offered the option of an 8-week home-based telerehabilitation program (one home visit followed by twice-weekly exercise training sessions, with real time supervision, for 8-weeks). Equipment was provided to patients, as necessary. Standard PR assessments were conducted pre and post program. Program completion was defined as undertaking >=70% of prescribed sessions. Real-world implementation was evaluated against the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. Result(s): Reach: Across 2-years (Sept 2020-22), 269 people were referred with 55 (21%) undertaking telerehabilitation (25 female, mean (SD) age 61 (11) years, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) 430 (120) metres, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire Dyspnoea (CRQD) domain 16 (6)). Participant diagnoses included COPD (n = 11), ILD (n = 15), bronchiectasis (n = 5), asthma (n = 2), post COVID-19 (n = 9), and pulmonary hypertension (n = 4). Forty participants (73%) completed >=70% of prescribed sessions. Effectiveness: Significant and clinically meaningful improvements were demonstrated (CRQD MD 4 (95% CI 1, 6);6MWD MD 24 m (95% CI 8, 41)). Adoption: Training to deliver telerehabilitation and perform home visits was completed by PR clinicians (n = 7 and n = 4 respectively). Implementation: All participants independently supplied Wi-Fi, and 40% used their own exercise equipment or internet-enabled device. Most participants had an in-person home visit (n = 45), and undertook cycle-based training (n = 46). Fifteen participants required additional support for iPad or videoconferencing navigation. There were no serious adverse advents. Maintenance will be evaluated following this pilot period. Conclusion(s): 'Real-world' telerehabilitation achieves clinically meaningful outcomes for patients and provided access to an effective model of PR particularly when centre-based programs were unavailable due to COVID-19 restrictions.