Effect of an Individual Counseling Session on Physical Activity Level of Individuals With COPD

Effect of an Individual Counseling Session on Physical Activity Level of Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Randomized Controlled Study (RCT)

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to study the effect of an individual counseling session on the level of physical activity and motivation to practice physical exercise in individuals with COPD. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

• Does a counseling session improve the level of physical activity and motivation to practice physical exercise in individuals with COPD?

Participants will perform a respiratory rehabilitation program (Control Group, CG) and a respiratory rehabilitation program and the counseling session (Experimental Group, EG).

Researchers will compare EG to CG to see if there is any difference in physical activity level and motivation to exercise between groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Portuguese nationality;
• Medical diagnosis of COPD according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD 2022);
• Aged over 40 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• underwent recent orthopedic surgeries (<3 months);
• Pregnant;
• Terminal illness diagnosis (life expectancy of less than 6 months);
• High cardiovascular risk classification for the practice of physical activity according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM 2018).