Abstract
Background: Biofeedback combined with pulmonary rehabilitative exercise program (BF-PR) has been used to facilitate COPD patients' adherence of regular exercise, but it is important to explore how participants experienced and perceived participation.
Aims: To explore COPD participants' self-awareness on their psychological and physiological changes after BF-PR.
Methods: Twelve COPD patients, who completed the 4-week BF-PR,were received two in-depth interviews at the time of right after completed the training program and 6 months after. The transcripts were analyzed by the method of content analysis.
Results: Six themes identified from participants' self-disclosure at the time right after the training were identified, which were (1) the initiative motivation of participating; (2) special experiences via engaging the training program, (3) positive progressing in health status; (4) driving the healthy behaviors; (5) expanding exercise benefits; (6) the additive effects of biofeedback training. At 6 months after the training, five themes were refined, which were (1) sustaining the positive progressing in physiological and psychological impacts from the program; (2) further engaging in healthy behaviors; (3) wanting to maintain the exercise effects; (4) perceived the factors to maintain the regular exercise; (5) perceived barriers to maintain the regular exercise.
Conclusion: After received the BF-PR, patients with COPD experienced their own positive changes, and willing to execute healthy behaviors and establish their own way to maintain the regular exercise.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016