Respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease – Study protocol

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an important and growing economic and social burden. The benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) include better control of dyspnoea and major improvements in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of implementing a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program in Outpatients with COPD and with Follow-up at Home. Methodology: A quasi-experimental single-group, descriptive and correlational study. Participants will be subject to PR sessions 3 times a week in a total of 36 sessions, in the Health Center of the area of residence and teleconsultation, in a previously defined scheme. Evaluations will be carried out at the beginning of the intervention, at the 18th and 36th sessions and 6 and 12 weeks after the 36th session. Throughout the PR sessions, physical exercise plans will be developed, education about exacerbating factors and control of risk factors, respiratory functional re-education techniques and inhalotherapy training. Participants will be provided with a customized plan to be implemented at their home, with teleconsultation monitoring after the end of the PR program (12th week). Expected results: The aim is to achieve clinical and statistically significant improvements in the ability to perform ADL, in the quality of life, in the management of symptoms and the therapeutic regimen, in the ability to walk and in the reduction of costs associated with exacerbations. It is also intended to verify whether there are significant differences between the two modalities of implementation of the program. Conclusion: Through the planned intervention, it is expected to reach the end of 2023 with data that allow to optimize the response to the needs of people with COPD in the district of Bragança and highlight the value of the specialized intervention in Rehabilitation Nursing in Primary Health Care