The effect of tele coaching after pulmonary rehabilitation on patients’ experience of physical activity in patients with COPD

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) coaching is effective to increase PA in patients with COPD. The effect of a coaching intervention on patients’ experienced difficulty with and amount of PA is unknown. Methods: To investigate the effect of tele coaching, 73 patients with COPD (mean±SD FEV1: 1.33±0.55l; 6MWD: 506±76m; PA: 4988±2442 steps/day) who finished 3 months of pulmonary rehabilitation were randomized in either the intervention (IG) or control group (CG). The IG received PA coaching with smartphone application (from baseline to 6m) followed by a maintenance PA program (3m). Mean daily steps were objectively measured; patients’ experience on PA was captured by the PROactive tool (clinical visit). Analyses are based on 31 patients in IG and 30 patients in CG. Results: PA coaching significantly improved mean step count compared to CG (between group differences mean±SE at 6m: 1889±684 steps/day; p Conclusion: PA coaching tends to improve experienced amount of PA, but did not significantly alter the experienced difficulty with PA. To impact on difficulty with PA, other interventions alleviating symptoms might be necessary.