Introduction
The increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), poses significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone in managing CRD, aiming to improve patients' exercise capacity, psychological well-being, and adherence to health-enhancing behaviors. However, accessibility to PR services remains a major hurdle, with only 1% of COPD patients worldwide having access to such programs. The research article "Enhance Access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation with a Structured and Personalized Home-Based Program—reabilitAR: Protocol for Real-World Setting" addresses this issue by proposing a home-based PR model.
Key Findings from the Research
The reabilitAR program is a pioneering initiative in Portugal, representing the first nationwide home-based PR program. The program is structured into two phases: a 12-week intensive phase followed by a 40-week maintenance phase, totaling one year. This model integrates home visits and phone-call follow-ups, focusing on exercise training and self-management education.
The primary outcomes of the program include improvements in symptoms, emotional status, functional capacity, and physical activity levels. Secondary outcomes focus on the reduction of exacerbations and healthcare utilization. The program's design ensures safety by assessing fall risk and cognitive function, with data collected at multiple intervals throughout the year.
Implications for Practitioners
For practitioners, the reabilitAR program offers a framework to enhance access to PR services, especially in non-urban areas where traditional hospital-based programs are not feasible. By adopting a home-based model, practitioners can provide personalized care that directly addresses patients' needs within their own environment. This approach not only improves accessibility but also aligns with international guidelines that advocate for home-based PR models due to their comparable benefits to hospital-based programs.
Practitioners are encouraged to explore the implementation of similar home-based PR models in their practice. The reabilitAR program's structured approach, focusing on self-management and regular follow-ups, can be adapted to different settings and patient populations, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Encouraging Further Research
The success of the reabilitAR program highlights the need for further research into home-based PR models. Practitioners and researchers are encouraged to investigate the long-term effects of such programs on patient outcomes, including the impact on healthcare utilization and quality of life. Additionally, exploring the integration of technology, such as telehealth and wearable devices, could enhance the delivery and monitoring of home-based PR interventions.
Conclusion
The reabilitAR program represents a significant advancement in making PR services more accessible and personalized for patients with CRD. By adopting a home-based approach, healthcare providers can overcome traditional barriers to PR access and improve patient outcomes. Practitioners are encouraged to consider implementing similar models in their practice and to contribute to the growing body of research on home-based PR interventions.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Enhance Access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation with a Structured and Personalized Home-Based Program—reabilitAR: Protocol for Real-World Setting.
