Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD Patients; a Pilot Study
The goal of this pilot study is to investigate the feasibility of a virtual rehabilitation program in COPD patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. To facilitate a safe rollout of the remote rehabilitation program for COPD patients in Southwest Finland. 2. To identify and subsequently improve limitations of the rehabilitation program. 3. To evaluate the levels of participant engagement and adherence to the digital COPD rehabilitation program over an extended period to understand its sustainability and long-term impact. 4. To determine the effectiveness of the digital COPD rehabilitation program in improving lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life among participants 5. To assess the impact of the digital program on healthcare resource utilization, including hospital readmissions, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits related to COPD management. 6. To measure participant satisfaction, usability, and overall experience with the digital platform to identify areas for improvement and enhance user engagement. 7. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing the digital program compared to conventional rehabilitation methods, considering direct healthcare costs. Participants will be enrolled in a virtual rehabilitation program, and a proportion of the patients is invited for focus group discussion to assess their experiences.
• Participation in the remote rehabilitation program for COPD patients, fulfilling criteria 1a, 1b and 1c 1a Documented COPD diagnosis (ICD 10 code J44) 1b Expected survival \> 1 year 1c Sufficient technical and language skills for safe participation in the program
• Signed informed consent