Improving Lung Transplant Outcomes With Coping Skills and Physical Activity

Improving Lung Transplant Outcomes With Coping Skills and Physical Activity

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a coping skills and exercise (CSTEX) intervention among post lung transplant patients aimed to reduce distress and improve functional capacity. Half of the patients will receive CSTEX and half will receive the standard of care plus transplant education (SOC-ED).

The study will aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the CSTEX intervention in (i) reducing distress and (ii) improving functional capacity. It is hypothesized that compared to SOC-ED, the CSTEX intervention will result in 1) greater reductions in global distress measured by an established psychometric test battery; and 2) greater improvements in functional capacity assessed by distance walked on a standard Six Minute Walk test (6MWT).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Single or bilateral first lung transplant recipient; discharged from the hospital and at least 6 weeks post-transplant; completed post-transplant pulmonary rehabilitation within the past 18 months; on stable medication regimen; proficient in the English language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Illness such as malignancies that are associated with a life-expectancy of < 12 months; current pregnancy; inability to read or to provide informed consent; multi-organ transplant recipient or repeat lung transplant.