Effect of Home-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Daily Activity of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an important part of treatment in patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) with the goal of achieving and maintaining maximum functional independence since this disease causes symptoms including fatigue، and consequently decrease in daily living activity.

To determine the effect of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation on daily living activity among patients with COPD.

This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted on 40 patients with COPD who had been admitted to Masih Daneshvari hospital of Tehran in 1389 and were selected with randomized blocking method in two intervention and control groups. For each participant in the intervention group، 3 one-hour، personal، face to face sessions with the content of theoretical teaching and practical training (training exercises including walking، lip bud breathing and practicing it) was carried out and was continued at home for 7 weeks after discharge. The research instrument was standard demographic Barthel Index. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11. 5 using descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test، chi-square test، and ANOVA).

The mean age of the participants was 63. 5±11. 5 and 58. 3%were male. Average score of daily living activities before the intervention was 87. 2± 7. 5 and 80. 5± 16. 1 in controls (p=0. 12). After the intervention، the intervention group had a mean score of daily living activities of 95. 5± 4. 5 and the control group had 80. 8±11 (P<0. 001).

The home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program can be an effective step to improve daily living activities in patients with COPD، maximize their independence، and reduce complications in these patients.