Physical activity telecoaching during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD: do we reach the intended candidates?

Intro: Physical Activity (PA) Telecoaching Programs (PATP) have potential to increase PA during Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR). Aim: We investigated the feasibility to start a PATP after 3 months of PR. Methods: Patients with COPD enrolled in a 6 months outpatient PR program were screened for eligibility at start of PR. After 3 months of PR, they were invited to participate to a PATP. Results: Since June 2015, 197 patients entered PR of which 135 (69%) were diagnosed with COPD. From these patients, 57 were included in the PATP trial, 17 declined and 61 were not eligible. Reasons for the latter were having dropped out from PR (n=45) and having contra-indicating comorbidities (n=16). Those who declined had higher PA avoidance, lower functional capacity and PA at start of PR compared to those included (Figure 1). A larger proportion of these patients had decreasing daylight time (proxy for seasonality) from 0 to 3 months of PR compared to those included (respectively 77% vs 50% in each group;p=0.05). There were no differences in effects from PR (0-3 months) between those included and those who declined (p>0.05). Conclusion: A majority (77%) of patients with COPD who were eligible for a PATP trial after 3 months of PR participated. Patients invited at periods closer to wintertime, those with more dysfunctional beliefs on PA, lower functional capacity and PA levels were less likely to participate.