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Background: Explanations provided by healthcare professionals contribute to patient beliefs. Little is known about how healthcare professionals explain chronic breathlessness to people living with this adverse sensation. Methods: A purpose-designed survey disseminated via newsletters of Australian professional associations (physiotherapy, respiratory medicine, palliative care). Respondents provided free-text responses for their usual explanation and concepts important to include, avoid, or perceived as difficult to understand by recipients. Content analysis coded free text into mutually exclusive categories with the proportion of respondents in each category reported. Results: Respondents (n = 61) were predominantly clinicians (93%) who frequently (80% daily/weekly) conversed with patients about breathlessness. Frequent phrases included within usual explanations reflected breathlessness resulting from medical conditions (70% of respondents) and physiological mechanisms (44%) with foci ranging from multifactorial to single-mechanism origins. Management principles were important to include and phrases encouraging maladaptive beliefs were important to avoid. The most frequent difficult concept identified concerned inconsistent relationships between oxygenation and breathlessness. Where explanations included the term 'oxygen', a form of cognitive shortcut (heuristic) may contribute to erroneous beliefs. Conclusions: This study presents examples of health professional explanations for chronic breathlessness as a starting point for considering whether and how explanations could contribute to adaptive or maladaptive breathlessness beliefs of recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is one possible strategy to ameliorate respiratory muscle weakness due to invasive mechanical ventilation. Recent systematic reviews have focused on respiratory outcomes with minimal attention to physical function. The newest systematic review searched the literature until September 2017 and a recent preliminary search identified 5 new randomized controlled trials focusing on IMT in critical care. As such, a new systematic review is warranted to summarize the current body of evidence and to investigate the effect of IMT on physical function in critical care. Materials and methods: We will search for three main concepts ("critical illness", "inspiratory muscle training", "RCT") across six databases from their inception (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, AMED, CINAHL, CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts for eligibility using the Covidence web-based software. Eligible studies must include: (1) adult (≥18 years) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) who required invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥24 hours, (2) an IMT intervention using a threshold device with the goal of improving inspiratory muscle strength, with or without usual care, and (3) randomized controlled trial design. The primary outcome of interest will be physical function. We will use the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools (ROB2) and will assess the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. This protocol has been reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA- P) guidelines and is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Conclusion: Results will summarize the body of evidence of the effect of IMT on physical function in critically ill patients. We will submit our findings to a peer-reviewed journal and share our results at conferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physiotherapy Canada is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ActiGraph® is a valid, frequently used, accelerometer to quantify moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) in people with COPD. The impact of ActiGraph processing techniques on this population is unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect of data reduction techniques on MVPA in people with COPD. MVPA/day, through ActiGraph GT3X+, was estimated using: Troiano, Freedson 98 and FreedsonVM3 cutoffs, 15-s and 60-s epochs, and normal and low-frequency extension (LFE) filters. Cutoff, epoch, and filter effects were explored with Aligned Rank Transform-ANOVA. Lin's concordance correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement and bias between different techniques. The analysis included 136 people with COPD (79% male; 68 ± 8 years; FEV1 51 ± 17% predicted). MVPA/day differed according to cutoff, filter, and epoch selection (p-value < 0.001). FreedsonVM3 cutoff, 15-s epochs, and LFE yielded the highest MVPA (45 min/day, 68% of physically active participants). Troiano cutoff, 60-s epochs, and normal filter yielded the lowest MVPA (8 min/day, 20% of physically active participants). Only comparisons between Troiano and Freedson98 cutoffs presented an almost perfect agreement. ActiGraph data reduction techniques affected MVPA/day estimates and their interpretation at the individual and group level. Studies using different processing criteria should not be compared in people with COPD. Future studies with a gold standard are required to ascertain which processing technique produces the most accurate MVPA estimates in COPD. Meanwhile, future trials employing the ActiGraph GT3X+ may consider estimating MVPA based on Freedson VM3 cutofffs, 60-s epochs, and normal filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer; however, the association between COPD and stage of lung cancer diagnosis is unclear. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional analysis of lung cancer patients (2008–2020) in Ontario, Canada. Using estimated propensity scores and inverse probability weighting, logistic regression models were developed to assess the association between COPD and lung cancer stage at diagnosis (early: I/II, advanced: III/IV), accounting for prior chest imaging. We further examined associations in subgroups with previously diagnosed and undiagnosed COPD. Over half (55%) of all lung cancer patients in Ontario had coexisting COPD (previously diagnosed: 45%, undiagnosed at time of cancer diagnosis: 10%). Compared to people without COPD, people with COPD had 30% lower odds of being diagnosed with lung cancer in the advanced stages (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.72). Prior chest imaging only slightly attenuated this association (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.80). The association with lower odds of advanced-stage diagnosis remained, regardless of whether COPD was previously diagnosed (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.70) or undiagnosed (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.82). Although most lung cancers are detected in the advanced stages, underlying COPD was associated with early-stage detection. Lung cancer diagnostics may benefit from enhanced partnership with COPD healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable lung disease which affects more than 300 million people worldwide. People with COPD have elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, which are linked to physiological alterations in the respiratory system and extrapulmonary manifestations. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the strategies used in the management of individuals with COPD irrespective of severity, however its effect on systemic inflammation is poorly understood. We report the protocol of a systematic review on the effects of PR on systemic inflammation in patients with COPD. Materials and methods: Using the search terms "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "pulmonary rehabilitation", and "inflammatory biomarkers" and their synonyms, five databases (AMED, CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE) will be searched from their inception to identify primary literature evaluating the effects of PR on systemic inflammation. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts for eligibility using the Covidence web-based software. Eligible studies must be published in a peer-reviewed journal and include: (1) participants with COPD undergoing PR with an exercise component of at least 4 weeks in length and (2) a measure of systemic inflammation (e.g., bloodwork or sputum sample) as an outcome of interest. We will use the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools (ROB2 and ROBINS-I) and will rate the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. This protocol has followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Conclusion: The results of this systematic review will summarize the status of the evidence highlighting the effect of PR on systemic inflammation. A manuscript will be drafted and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and shared at conferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Emerging evidence suggests that individuals with COPD demonstrate reductions in balance control that may be associated with an increased fall risk. The purpose of this review is to: 1) provide a brief overview of balance control and its assessment; 2) review relevant literature describing balance impairment in individuals with COPD; and 3) highlight important areas for future research. The observation of balance deficits and an increased fall risk in patients with COPD suggests the need for including balance assessment and training for patients enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation who may be vulnerable. Further studies are needed to determine which aspects of balance are affected and to examine the impact of interventions.

Respiratory muscle weakness resulting from conditions such as neuromuscular disease can lead to respiratory infection, hospitalization and serious pulmonary complications. Secretion clearance from the airways is correlated with peak expiratory cough flow, which can be enhanced by physical manoeuvres coupled with manual or mechanical resuscitator devices. Cough-assistance devices, such as the mechanical insufflator-exsufflator, can increase inspiratory lung volumes and peak expiratory cough flows beyond the patient's spontaneous ability and significantly augment lung secretion clearance. This study was prompted by the lack of data regarding current practices and availability of mechanical insufflator-exsufflator devices in Canada.

Depression and anxiety are related to physical activity among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although the strength and direction of the reported relationships are inconsistent. This study systematically synthesized the relationships between physical activity and i) depression and ii) anxiety in people with COPD. Physical activity measurement type (objective, self-report) was examined as a moderator of these relationships. A systematic search of physical activity and COPD was conducted from inception to February 2022 across 8 databases. Studies were included if they provided correlation coefficients for the relationship between measures of physical activity and depression or anxiety in people with COPD and were published in English. Two reviewers independently screened, reviewed and extracted data, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Across 13 studies, a small relationship was found between physical activity and depression, weighted r = −0.15, 95%CI [-0.21, −0.10], which was not moderated by physical activity measurement type. Across 8 studies, a negligible relationship was found between physical activity and anxiety, weighted r = −0.03, 95%CI [-0.11, 0.04], although this was moderated by physical activity measurement type, such that self-reported physical activity had a small negative relationship with anxiety (weighted r = −0.09, 95% CI [-0.15, −0.03]) and objectively measured physical activity had a small positive relationship (weighted r = 0.07, 95% CI [-0.13, 0.26]). In COPD, the bivariate association between physical activity and anxiety and depression are small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Ventilator Assisted Individuals (VAIs) frequently remain in intensive care units (ICUs) for a prolonged period once clinically stable due to a lack of transition options. These VAIs occupy ICU beds and resources that patients with more acute needs could better utilize. Moreover, VAIs experience improved outcomes and quality of life in long-term and community-based environments. Objective To better understand the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) working in an Ontario ICU regarding barriers and facilitators to referral and transition of VAIs from the ICU to a long-term setting. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with ten healthcare providers involved in VAI transitions. Main Results Perceived barriers included long wait times for long-term care settings, insufficient bed availability at discharge locations, medical complexity of patients, long waitlists, and a lack of transparency of waitlists. Facilitators included strong partnerships and trusting relationships between referring and discharge locations, a centralized referral system, and utilization of community partnerships across care sectors. Conclusions Insufficient resourcing of long-term care is a key barrier to transitioning VAIs from ICU to long-term settings; strong partnerships across care sectors are a facilitator. System-level approaches, such as a single-streamlined referral system, are needed to address key barriers to timely transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundHip fractures among older adults remain a public concern. Consequences of a hip fracture include the subsequent decline in function and mobility for the older adult, and an increased burden placed upon their caregivers and the health care system. The consequences may be more challenging if an older adult also has a compromised cognitive reserve. Although rehabilitation programs have proven effective, the best practices and resources required to maintain the gains in function and mobility, to negate diminution of effect, and to enable this patient population to continue living at home are currently unknown. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to develop a systematic review protocol focused on identifying the evidence and evaluating the effectiveness of post discharge rehabilitation programs for older adults with a cognitive impairment following a hip fracture. MethodsThe search strategy will include a combination of text words and subject headings relating to the concepts of cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, cognitive reserve, and hip fractures. Searching various databases will identify peer-reviewed journal articles. There will be two independent reviewers who will screen the titles and abstracts to determine which articles comprise a rehabilitation intervention within a community setting prior to being included for a full article review. A data extraction form and an evidence and quality checklist will be used during the full article data analysis and synthesis. It is expected that there will be a paucity of studies that focus on post discharge rehabilitation interventions for older adults with cognitive impairment following a hip fracture, and few studies that use the same or similar outcome measures. However, if possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted on studies that used similar outcome methods. ResultsThis review will synthesize knowledge focusing on activities to maintain and restore function in older adult patients with cognitive impairment once they have completed their active rehabilitation program and return home. A synthesis of the findings will be conducted to determine which components of the interventions identified were the most advantageous to the patient population. The results will be used to develop a multi-faceted post discharge rehabilitation intervention aimed at enabling older adults to return and remain living at home after a hip fracture. ConclusionsThe aim of this systematic review is to generate results that can be used to create interventions that focus on the care necessary to enable older adults to remain living at home post discharge from acute or inpatient rehabilitation care for a hip fracture. With the support and contributions by our associated knowledge users, this systematic review will be used to help inform procedures and policies to facilitate the necessary care and resources required by our patient population.

Abstract Pulmonary rehabilitation is a cornerstone intervention for controlling respiratory symptoms in people with chronic respiratory diseases. Chronic cough affects up to 90% of people with chronic respiratory diseases, however, it is currently unknown whether chronic cough is assessed and/or managed in pulmonary rehabilitation. This study aimed to determine if and how chronic cough is assessed and managed in pulmonary rehabilitation. This was a cross-sectional study. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs in Canada were identified via online websites. A representative from each program was invited to complete an online survey including the following topics: program demographics, assessment and management practices, and barriers and facilitators. Of 133 programs contacted, 31 returned a completed survey (23% response rate). Approximately half (52%) of respondents reported enrolling patients with chronic cough. Of those, 45% reported assessing and 62% reported intervening in chronic cough. Inadequate knowledge of assessment and management techniques was commonly identified to be a barrier and increased education was suggested as a possible facilitator. Based on pulmonary rehabilitation programs that responded to our survey, chronic cough is a prevalent symptom; however, it is scarcely assessed and managed. A need for structured education and the use of standardised strategies were reported as facilitators to the assessment and management of chronic cough in pulmonary rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physiotherapy Canada is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: We aimed to elicit patients' views of research priorities related to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Method:We used a modified nominal group technique in which participants with chronic lung conditions who had completed PR attended one of five meetings during which they generated ideas, discussed them with the group, and prioritized their top three topics. Afterward, they completed member checking and satisfaction questionnaires. Results:Fourteen participants (mean age 71 years) prioritized 25 topics, which included music as a motivator, education about the reason for various assessments and exercises, and ongoing patient assessment and follow-up. Most participants "totally agreed" that the summarized topics matched what they thought was important in PR research (75%) and that the meeting was a positive experience (100%). Participants indicated that the findings of this study accurately reflected their priorities. Conclusions:Individuals who have completed PR may have questions about programme components including assessment, treatment, and strategies for promoting motivation. To inform future research projects and identify knowledge translation needs, we will distribute a questionnaire to a larger sample of former PR patients to further prioritize the 25 topics identified in the meetings. Objectif : connaître les points de vue des patients sur les priorités de la recherche en réadaptation pulmonaire (RP). Méthodologie : les chercheurs ont utilisé une technique de groupe nominale modifiée selon laquelle les participants atteints d'une pneumopathie chronique qui ont effectué une RP ont assisté à l'une des cinq rencontres pour générer des idées, en parler en groupe et prioriser leurs trois thèmes principaux. Ils ont ensuite rempli les questionnaires de vérification et de satisfaction des membres. Résultats : quatorze participants (d'un âge moyen de 71 ans) ont priorisé 25 thèmes, qui incluaient la musique comme élément motivateur, l'éducation sur la raison des diverses évaluations et des divers exercices ainsi que l'évaluation et le suivi continus des patients. La plupart des participants étaient « totalement d'accord » avec le fait que les thèmes résumés correspondaient à ce qu'ils considéraient comme important en recherche sur la RP (75 %) et que la rencontre était une expérience positive (100 %). Les participants ont indiqué que les résultats de cette étude étaient un reflet exact de leurs priorités. Conclusions : les personnes qui ont effectué la RP peuvent avoir des questions sur les éléments du programme, y compris l'évaluation, le traitement et les stratégies pour promouvoir la motivation. Afin d'éclairer les projets de recherche et de déterminer les besoins en application des connaissances, les chercheurs distribueront un questionnaire à un plus grand échantillon d'anciens patients en RP afin de mieux prioriser les 25 thèmes établis pendant les rencontres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]