PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - D. Brooks
AU  - B. Krip
AU  - S. Mangovski-Alzamora
AU  - R.S. Goldstein
TI  - The effect of postrehabilitation programmes among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.02.01852001
DP  - 2002 Jul 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 20--29
VI  - 20
IP  - 1
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/1/20.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/1/20.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2002 Jul 01; 20
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two postrehabilitation programmes on functional exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects with COPD (n=109) were randomised to receive either enhanced follow-up (EF) or conventional follow-up (CF). Subjects in the EF group attended a monthly support group and received a telephone call from a staff member at the midpoint (2 weeks) between their visits. Both groups had scheduled appointments with a physical therapist and physician at 3‐monthly intervals after discharge. Longitudinal data were recorded in 85 subjects (37 EF and 48 CF). Over the course of the study, there was no difference in distance walked in 6 min between the two groups but a significant difference for time and a group-time interaction. There was no difference in total chronic respiratory disease questionnaire score between groups at baseline or at any time interval despite a significant difference with time. There was a clear deterioration in functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life after completion of respiratory rehabilitation but no difference between the groups. This study was supported in part by the West Park Foundation, the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada and the Ontario Respiratory Care Society. D. Brooks was supported by a joint Glaxo Welcome/Canadian Lung Association/MRC fellowship.