Effect of a home exercise video programme in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study investigated whether a home exercise video programme could improve exercise tolerance and breathlessness in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


METHODS
Twenty subjects completed the study after being randomized to intervention or control. The intervention group (n=10), watched a 19-min video on the benefits of exercise for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and were given a 30-min exercise video, an illustrated exercise diary and an educational booklet about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for use at home. They were advised to follow the exercise video programme 4 times a week for 6 weeks. The control group (n=10) received the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease educational booklet only. Exercise tolerance was measured using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test and breathlessness by the self-reported Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The median change in the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test and breathlessness score significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control (+45 m vs -15 m, p=0.013 and +0.5 vs -0.1 Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire units, p=0.042). The other findings for the self-reported Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire showed significant improvements in the intervention group for emotion (p<0.001) and fatigue (p=0.012), but not mastery (p=0.253).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that participation in a home exercise video programme may benefit people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Moore
Julie
J
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team, Dulwich Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lambeth & Southwark Primary Care Trusts, London, UK. pulmonary.rehab@kch.nhs.uk
Fiddler
Helen
H
Seymour
John
J
Grant
Amy
A
Jolley
Caroline
C
Johnson
Lorna
L
Moxham
John
J
D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording