The effects of a lifestyle physical activity counseling program with feedback of a pedometer during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD: a pilot study

Patient Educ Couns. 2006 Apr;61(1):48-55. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2005.02.005. Epub 2006 Feb 7.

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of a lifestyle physical activity counseling program with feedback of a pedometer during pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methods: Twenty-one chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients were randomized to an experimental group that followed a regular rehabilitation program plus the counseling intervention or to a control group that only followed rehabilitation. The primary outcome was daily physical activity assessed by pedometers. Secondary outcomes were physical fitness, health-related quality of life, activities of daily living, depression and self-efficacy.

Results: The experimental group showed an increase of 1,430 steps/day (+69% from baseline), whereas the control group showed an increase of 455 steps/day (+19%) (p = 0.11 for group x time interaction). The secondary outcomes showed no differences.

Conclusion and practice implications: This study showed that the use of the pedometer, in combination with exercise counseling and the stimulation of lifestyle physical activity, is a feasible addition to pulmonary rehabilitation which may improve outcome and maintenance of rehabilitation results.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Counseling*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Feedback
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity*
  • Patient Compliance / psychology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / psychology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / rehabilitation*
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Efficacy
  • Statistics, Nonparametric