Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD Patients; a Pilot Study

Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD Patients; a Pilot Study

The goal of this pilot study is to investigate the feasibility of a virtual rehabilitation program in COPD patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. To facilitate a safe rollout of the remote rehabilitation program for COPD patients in Southwest Finland.
2. To identify and subsequently improve limitations of the rehabilitation program.
3. To evaluate the levels of participant engagement and adherence to the digital COPD rehabilitation program over an extended period to understand its sustainability and long-term impact.
4. To determine the effectiveness of the digital COPD rehabilitation program in improving lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life among participants
5. To assess the impact of the digital program on healthcare resource utilization, including hospital readmissions, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits related to COPD management.
6. To measure participant satisfaction, usability, and overall experience with the digital platform to identify areas for improvement and enhance user engagement.
7. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing the digital program compared to conventional rehabilitation methods, considering direct healthcare costs.

Participants will be enrolled in a virtual rehabilitation program, and a proportion of the patients is invited for focus group discussion to assess their experiences.

The e-PURE study is an investigator initiated study, which aims to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and long-term outcomes of a digital pulmonary rehabilitation program designed for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Southwest Finland. This pilot study assesses patient adherence, lung function, exercise capacity, quality of life, and the program's potential impact on healthcare utilization.

COPD is a common disease, affecting mostly elderly, with significant impact on life expectancy and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an essential intervention for COPD patients, known to enhance health-related quality of life and reduce symptoms like shortness of breath. Traditional PR programs are underutilized due to accessibility barriers, with less than 1% of COPD patients in Canada and 3.7% in the U.S. attending such programs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges by halting in-person PR programs. Virtual PR offers a promising, non-inferior alternative. The e-PURE study responds to this need by rolling out a digital rehabilitation program developed by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

This is a single-arm observational pilot study enrolling up to 50 COPD patients. The rehabilitation program spans around 12 weeks, with follow-up assessments at 16 and 26 weeks post-enrolment. Patients undergo a tailored rehabilitation plan that includes individualized exercise routines, nutritional counselling, and smoking cessation support. Progress is reported through questionnaires and clinical evaluations such as the 6-minute walk test.

The primary outcome measure is the improvement in distance during the 6-minute walk test after the program, compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes include patient satisfaction, changes in the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, and healthcare resource utilization (hospital readmissions, emergency visits).

The pilot study will identify whether a larger follow-up study is feasible, and indicate the number of patients to recruit.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participation in the remote rehabilitation program for COPD patients, fulfilling criteria 1a, 1b and 1c 1a Documented COPD diagnosis (ICD 10 code J44) 1b Expected survival > 1 year 1c Sufficient technical and language skills for safe participation in the program
2. Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe comorbidities with expected survival of less than 1 year
• Clinical suspicion that remote rehabilitation may be unsafe.