Pulmonary rehabilitation online: current status and availability in 2022

ABSTRACT

BackgroundPulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a core component of COPD treatment. An alternative to traditional face-to-face PR is online PR, also known as tele-rehabilitation. Despite lack of delivery standardisation there has been recent progression towards an online platform with myCOPD (NICE, 2022)1. The British Thoracic Society advising face-to-face PR suspension and COVID-19 restrictions may have encouraged services to develop tele-rehabilitation.MethodsA questionnaire survey of PR services in England explored the availability and practice of tele-rehabilitation in England. Additional aims were the investigation of recent development of tele-rehabilitation including changes following the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential barriers to and predictors of success for tele-rehabilitation delivery. The questionnaire used closed and open-ended questions and free text-boxes. Data was collected between 30th March 2022 and 19th April 2022.Results61 responses (33%) were received. 11 PR services (18%) stated that they had used a form of tele-rehabilitation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and 59 (97%) services described using a form of tele-rehabilitation during COVID-19 restrictions. Common remote methods during COVID-19 restrictions included telephone (27%), videoconferencing with patients in groups (23%) and individual patient videoconferencing (21%).15 (25%) PR services strongly agreed, and 23 (38%) agreed, that inability to use tele-rehabilitation due to unfamiliarity with digital equipment or lack of access to the internet prevented many service users from using remote PR. 31 (51%) PR services strongly agreed, and 14 (23%) agreed, that face-to-face PR was preferred by users.31 (51%) PR services disagreed, and 13 (21%) strongly disagreed that tele-rehabilitation would be too costly whilst 7 (11%) strongly agreed, and 45 (74%) agreed that tele-rehabilitation would be beneficial to users.ConclusionTele-rehabilitation became widespread following COVID-19 restrictions, most commonly through telephone and videoconferencing. Most service users were thought to be unable to access tele-rehabilitation due to inability to access the internet and prefer face-to-face PR. Most services reported that cost was not an obstacle to tele-rehabilitation and would be beneficial to users.ReferencesNICE. (2022). Recommendations ;myCOPD for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [online] Available at <https//www.nice.org.uk/guidance/MTG68/chapter/1-Recommendations> [Accessed 30 June 2022].