Home-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Health Coaching in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease

Home-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Health Coaching to Improve Respiratory-related Quality of Life and Physical Activity in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease

The purpose of this study is to gather information on the effectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program with health coaching and tele-monitoring for improving patient-reported respiratory-related quality of life and physical activity in patients with fibrotic Interstitial Lung Diseases (f-ILD).

The home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program involves using a computer tablet paired with a pulse oximeter and activity tracker. Gentle upper body exercises, walking and a breathing practice are completed by following along on the computer tablet. Weekly check-in calls by telephone will be provided by a Health Coach to assess clinical status and monitor progress. The exercise portion of the program lasts 12 weeks. There are questionnaires and a research grade activity tracker measuring baseline and post-intervention findings at the end of 12-week period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or other fibrotic interstitial lung disease, with a minimum of > 10% fibrosis on computed tomography imaging.
• Clinically meaningful breathlessness: modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score >1.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to walk (orthopedic/neurologic/cardiac limitation causing immobility).
• Cognitive impairment or inability to understand and follow instructions.
• Traditional PR completed within 3 months of study recruitment.
• Hospice or end-of-life care at the time of screening.
• Acute exacerbation at the time of screening.