RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Adherence to a maintenance exercise programme 1 year after pulmonary rehabilitation: What are the predictors of drop-out?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 4340
VO 40
IS Suppl 56
A1 Ankie Heerema-Poelman
A1 Johan Wempe
A1 Ilse Stuive
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/4340.abstract
AB Objective: To study adherence to a maintenance exercise programme in patients with COPD, who had been following a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.Methods: 70 patients with COPD were included in the study after completing the rehabilitation programme. All were referred to an community-based maintenance exercise programme. Adherence was assessed by open questionnaire after 6 and 12 months and lung function, exercise capacity, exercise self-efficacy, illness perceptions, health related quality of life, levels of anxiety and depression, duration of rehabilitation and number of exacerbations were studied as possible predictors of (non-)adherence.Results: Ten patients died or were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 60 patients, 73.3 and 63.3% were adherent to the exercise programme after 6 and 12 months, respectively. FEV1 (p=0.021), HADS depression score (p=0.025) and duration of rehabilitation (p=0.018) were statistically significant predictors of adherence.Conclusion: Adherence to a maintenance exercise programme, after having followed a pulmonary rehabilitation course, is quite reasonable for patients with COPD: about one third drops out during the first year. A poorer lung function, a longer rehabilitation course, and higher level of depressive symptoms are predictive for drop-out.Practice Implications: To improve adherence to a maintenance programme, special attention should be paid to patients with lower FEV1, those with signs of depression or in need of a longer rehabilitation.