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Abnormal sleep duration is associated with poor health. Upwards of 50% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report poor sleep quality. The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on self-reported sleep quality is variable. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on objectively measured sleep quality (via actigraphy) in people with COPD. Sleep quality was assessed objectively using the SenseWear Armband (SWA, BodyMedia, Pittsburgh, PA), worn for ≥4 days before and immediately after completing an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. Sleep characteristics were derived from accelerometer positional data and registration of sleep state by the SWA, determined from energy expenditure. Forty-eight participants (

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other forms of fibrosing interstitial lung disease (F-ILD) are life-altering conditions that increasingly deprive patients and their caregivers of their quality of...

Background Sleep quality in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) is known to be poor, whereas participating in regular physical activity is associated with less decline in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec [FEV1]). The relationship between sleep quality and physical activity in people with CF is unknown. Methods Secondary analysis of sleep and activity data collected via actigraphy. Adults with CF in stable health, participating in a study of physical activity (including assessment of exercise capacity), completed 7 d of activity and sleep assessment (SenseWear Armband [SWA]; BodyMedia). Sleep characteristics were derived from accelerometer positional data and registration of sleep state by the SWA, determined by energy expenditure. Results Sleep and activity data were available for 47 participants [n = 28 male; mean ± standard deviation age = 29 ± 8 yr; median (IQR) FEV1 = 60 (50, 82) % predicted]. More fragmented sleep was associated with poorer exercise capacity (rs = -0.303, P = .04), less time spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity (rs = -0.337, P = .020), and poorer FEV1 (rs = -0.344, P = .018). Regression analysis showed that less fragmented sleep was an independent predictor of more total daily activity time (β = -1.0, standard error [SE] of β = .4, P = .02) and trended toward significance for more moderate-vigorous physical activity (β = -.3, SE of β = -.26, P = .08). Greater total sleep time and sleep efficiency were related to better exercise capacity and lung function (P Conclusion This secondary analysis demonstrated a modest relationship between sleep parameters and physical activity and exercise capacity in adults with CF. Future studies of interventions to promote physical activity participation in this group should consider the relationship between sleep and activity performance.

To establish the feasibility and effectiveness of a 6-week ballistic strength training protocol in people with stroke.Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded study.Subacute inpatient rehabilitation.Consecutively admitted inpatients with a primary diagnosis of first-ever stroke with lower limb weakness, functional ambulation category score of ≥3, and ability to walk ≥14 m were screened for eligibility to recruit 30 participants for randomization.Participants were randomized to standard therapy or ballistic strength training 3 times per week for 6 weeks.The primary aim was to evaluate feasibility and outcomes included recruitment rate, participant retention and attrition, feasibility of the exercise protocol, therapist burden, and participant safety. Secondary outcomes included measures of mobility, lower limb muscle strength, muscle power, and quality of life.A total of 30 participants (11% of those screened) with mean age of 50 years (SD 18) were randomized. The median number of sessions attended was 15 of 18 and 17 of 18 for the ballistic and control groups, respectively. Earlier than expected discharge to home (n=4) and illness (n=7) were the most common reasons for nonattendance. Participants performed the exercises safely, with no study-related adverse events. There were significant (P.05) between-group changes favoring the ballistic group for comfortable gait velocity (mean difference [MD] 0.31m/s, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.52), muscle power, as measured by peak jump height (MD 8cm, 95% CI: 3-13), and peak propulsive velocity (MD 64cm/s, 95% CI: 17-112).Ballistic training was safe and feasible in select ambulant people with stroke. Similar rates of retention and attrition suggest that ballistic training was acceptable to patients. Secondary outcomes provide promising results that warrant further investigation in a larger trial.

Question: What are the core capabilities that physiotherapists need in order to deliver quality care via videoconferencing? Design: A three-round modified e-Delphi survey. Participants: An international Delphi panel comprising a Steering Group and experts in the field, including physiotherapy researchers, physiotherapy clinicians, representatives of physiotherapy organisations, and consumers. Methods: The draft framework was developed by the research team and Steering Group, based on relevant documents identified within the literature. The panel considered a draft framework of 73 specific capabilities mapped across eight domains. Over three rounds, panellists rated their agreement (Likert or numerical rating scales) on whether each capability was essential (core) for physiotherapists to deliver quality care via videoconferencing. Those capabilities achieving consensus, defined as 75% of the panel ratings being ≥ 7 out of 10 in Round 3, were retained. Results: A total of 130 panellists from 32 countries participated in Round 1, with retention rates of 65% and 60% in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively. The final framework comprised 60 capabilities across seven domains: compliance (n = 7 capabilities); patient privacy and confidentiality (n = 4); patient safety (n = 7); technology skills (n = 7); telehealth delivery (n = 16); assessment and diagnosis (n = 7); and care planning and management (n = 12). Conclusion: This framework outlines the specific core capabilities required of physiotherapists to provide quality care via videoconferencing. The core capability framework provides guidance for physiotherapists to deliver care via videoconferencing and will help inform future development of physiotherapy curricula and professional development initiatives in the delivery of telehealth.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a highly effective treatment for people with chronic lung disease but remains underused across the world. Recent years have seen the emergence of new program models that aim to improve access and uptake, including telerehabilitation and low-cost, home-based models. This workshop was convened to achieve consensus on the essential components of pulmonary rehabilitation and to identify requirements for successful implementation of emerging program models. A Delphi process involving experts from across the world identified 13 essential components of pulmonary rehabilitation that must be delivered in any program model, encompassing patient assessment, program content, method of delivery, and quality assurance, as well as 27 desirable components. Only those models of pulmonary rehabilitation that have been tested in clinical trials are currently considered as ready for implementation. The characteristics of patients most likely to succeed in each program model are not yet known, and research is needed in this area. Health professionals should use clinical judgment to determine those patients who are best served by a center-based, multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. A comprehensive patient assessment is critical for personalization of pulmonary rehabilitation and for effectively addressing individual patient goals. Robust quality-assurance processes are important to ensure that any pulmonary rehabilitation service delivers optimal outcomes for patients and health services. Workforce capacity-building and training should consider the skills necessary for emerging models, many of which are delivered remotely. The success of all pulmonary rehabilitation models will be judged on whether the essential components are delivered and on whether the expected patient outcomes, including improved exercise capacity, reduced dyspnea, enhanced health-related quality of life, and reduced hospital admissions, are achieved.

Objectives The objective of this study was to conduct a scoping review to comprehensively map the breadth of literature related to the rehabilitation of adult patients whilst on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and identify gaps and areas for future research. Review method used This review was conducted using recommended frameworks for methods and reporting including the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Date sources We searched seven databases from inception to June 2021 and included all study designs and grey literature. Review methods Eligibility screening was completed by two independent reviewers according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, with any disagreement resolved by consensus or with consultation with a third reviewer. Two independent reviewers extracted data related to intervention characteristics, patient outcomes, feasibility, safety, hospital outcomes, and mortality using a custom-designed piloted form. Results Of 8507 records, 185 original studies met inclusion criteria, with the majority being small retrospective studies. Rehabilitation was more commonly reported in patients on veno-venous rather than veno-arterial ECMO. Ambulation was the most commonly reported intervention (51% of studies). Critical gaps were identified including incomplete reporting of the intervention along with heterogeneity in the type and timing of outcome measures. Less than 50% of patients met eligibility criteria to participate, but screening for eligibility was infrequently reported (9% of studies). Delivery of rehabilitation during ECMO may be facilitated by an expert multidisciplinary team, along with a strategy that targets low sedation levels and an upper body cannulation approach. Conclusions Rehabilitation during ECMO is an emerging area of research and mostly consisted of small retrospective single-centre studies. Future research requires more robust methodological designs that include comprehensive screening of potential candidates with reporting of eligibility, more detailed descriptions of the rehabilitation interventions, inclusion of a core outcome set with defined measurement instruments, and consistent timing of outcome measurement.

Background Implementing evidence into clinical practice is a key focus of healthcare improvements to reduce unwarranted variation. Dissemination of evidence-based recommendations and knowledge brokering have emerged as potential strategies to achieve evidence implementation by influencing resource allocation decisions. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of these two research implementation strategies to facilitate evidence-informed healthcare management decisions for the provision of inpatient weekend allied health services. Methods and findings This multicentre, single-blinded (data collection and analysis), three-group parallel cluster randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation was conducted in Australian and New Zealand hospitals between February 2018 and January 2020. Clustering and randomisation took place at the organisation level where weekend allied health staffing decisions were made (e.g., network of hospitals or single hospital). Hospital wards were nested within these decision-making structures. Three conditions were compared over a 12-month period: (1) usual practice waitlist control; (2) dissemination of written evidence-based practice recommendations; and (3) access to a webinar-based knowledge broker in addition to the recommendations. The primary outcome was the alignment of weekend allied health provision with practice recommendations at the cluster and ward levels, addressing the adoption, penetration, and fidelity to the recommendations. The secondary outcome was mean hospital length of stay at the ward level. Outcomes were collected at baseline and 12 months later. A total of 45 clusters (n = 833 wards) were randomised to either control (n = 15), recommendation (n = 16), or knowledge broker (n = 14) conditions. Four (9%) did not provide follow-up data, and no adverse events were recorded. No significant effect was found with either implementation strategy for the primary outcome at the cluster level (recommendation versus control β 18.11 [95% CI −8,721.81 to 8,758.02] p = 0.997; knowledge broker versus control β 1.24 [95% CI −6,992.60 to 6,995.07] p = 1.000; recommendation versus knowledge broker β −9.12 [95% CI −3,878.39 to 3,860.16] p = 0.996) or ward level (recommendation versus control β 0.01 [95% CI 0.74 to 0.75] p = 0.983; knowledge broker versus control β −0.12 [95% CI −0.54 to 0.30] p = 0.581; recommendation versus knowledge broker β −0.19 [−1.04 to 0.65] p = 0.651). There was no significant effect between strategies for the secondary outcome at ward level (recommendation versus control β 2.19 [95% CI −1.36 to 5.74] p = 0.219; knowledge broker versus control β −0.55 [95% CI −1.16 to 0.06] p = 0.075; recommendation versus knowledge broker β −3.75 [95% CI −8.33 to 0.82] p = 0.102). None of the control or knowledge broker clusters transitioned to partial or full alignment with the recommendations. Three (20%) of the clusters who only received the written recommendations transitioned from nonalignment to partial alignment. Limitations include underpowering at the cluster level sample due to the grouping of multiple geographically distinct hospitals to avoid contamination. Conclusions Owing to a lack of power at the cluster level, this trial was unable to identify a difference between the knowledge broker strategy and dissemination of recommendations compared with usual practice for the promotion of evidence-informed resource allocation to inpatient weekend allied health services. Future research is needed to determine the interactions between different implementation strategies and healthcare contexts when translating evidence into healthcare practice. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000029291., In a cluster randomized controlled implementation trial, Dr. Mitchell N Sarkies and colleagues examine the effectiveness of knowledge brokering and recommendation dissemination in influencing healthcare resource allocation decisions in Australia and New Zealand., Author summary Why was this study done? Healthcare delivery does not always reflect the most up-to-date research evidence. There are high levels of evidence to suggest that inpatient allied health services provided during weekends achieve greatest benefits in subacute rehabilitation wards. Most weekend allied health services are provided to acute general medical and surgical wards, where there is uncertain evidence of impact. Translation of evidence into practice is constrained by a limited understanding of which implementation strategies are most effective for specific settings. What did the researchers do and find? We conducted a cluster randomised controlled implementation trial to compare the effectiveness of two research implementation strategies across 132 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. We provided hospital managers with either evidence-based weekend allied health practice recommendations or access to a knowledge broker in addition to the recommendations, over a 12-month period. Neither implementation strategy was able to be shown effective for ensuring better alignment of weekend allied health provision with practice recommendations; no impacts on hospital length of stay were identified. What do the findings mean? Evidence dissemination and knowledge brokering are thought to facilitate the translation of research evidence into practice. Our study was unable to find whether either of these strategies substantially influenced weekend allied health service decision-making by hospital managers. It is possible to study the impact of research implementation using robust trial designs; however, challenges achieving adequate statistical power are a barrier to these evaluations.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is associated with poor outcomes in patients with many chronic lung diseases, however little is known about physical activity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our aim was to describe daily physical activity (DPA) in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IPF and analyse its associations with traditional markers of disease severity and quality of life.MethodsFifty-nine patients with IPF had DPA parameters and sedentary time assessed with the Sensewear armband for seven consecutive days. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Data on current markers of disease severity; forced vital capacity (FVC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) as well as prognostic markers; composite physiologic index (CPI) and gender age and physiology (GAP) was collected.ResultsPatients had a median daily step count of 3957 (300–7614), mean daily moderate to vigorous (MV) physical activity duration of 8.6 minutes (-13.1 to 30.3) and mean total daily sedentary time of 1234.6 minutes (± 122.8). Patients with early stages of IPF according to GAP stage had significantly higher daily step count than those with more severe disease (p Trial Registration: please note that a request has been made for retrospective registration with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry with the request number being 381161. Due to holiday period closure, this is yet to be processed. I will supply this as soon as accepted.

Dyspnoea is a cardinal symptom of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), with a lack of proven effective therapies. With emerging evidence of the role of facial and nasal airflow for relieving breathlessness, this pilot study was conducted to examine the feasibility of conducting a clinical trial of a handheld fan (HHF) for dyspnoea management in patients with fibrotic ILD. In this mixed-methods, randomised, assessor-blinded, controlled trial, 30 participants with fibrotic ILD who were dyspnoeic with a modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea grade ≥ 2 were randomised to a HHF for symptom control or no intervention for 2 weeks. Primary outcomes were trial feasibility, change in Dyspnoea-12 scores at Week 2, and participants’ perspectives on using a HHF for dyspnoea management. Study recruitment was completed within nine months at a single site. Successful assessor blinding was achieved in the fan group [Bang’s Blinding Index − 0.08 (95% CI − 0.45, 0.30)] but not the control group [0.47 (0.12, 0.81)]. There were no significant between-group differences for the change in Dyspnoea-12 or secondary efficacy outcomes. During qualitative interviews, participants reported that using the HHF relieved breathlessness and provided relaxation, despite initial scepticism about its therapeutic benefit. Oxygen-experienced participants described the HHF being easier to use, but not as effective for symptomatic relief, compared to oxygen therapy. Our results confirmed the feasibility of a clinical trial of a HHF in fibrotic ILD. There was a high level of patient acceptance of a HHF for managing dyspnoea, with patients reporting both symptomatic benefits and ease of use.

Objective People with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) consider self-management essential for maintaining health. This study aims to explore the needs and expectations of PF self-management from the patient and healthcare professionals (HCPs) perspectives. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with PF and HCPs. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Thematic analysis was performed using the principles of grounded theory. Results 18 individuals with PF and 15 HCPs were interviewed. Common self-management components reported included exercise, nutrition, maintaining healthy mind, avoiding infections, recognising deterioration and seeking help, managing symptoms and treatments, social support, and end-of-life planning. Both groups felt that effective self-management required individualised strategies, supports, and reliable information. People with PF identified access to personal health data and self-acceptance as part of self-management. HCPs highlighted the importance of accessible supports and managing patient expectations of disease course and treatments. Some HCPs concerned about missed detection of deterioration and suggested that self-management strategies for PF may differ to other lung diseases. Conclusion This study identified components important for self-management in PF and provides a basis for designing a PF self-management package. Practice implications: Self-management of PF can be facilitated with individualised support from HCPs and reliable information that is accessible.

Purpose Early pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has beneficial impacts on people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when delivered after an exacerbation; however, program characteristics are diverse. This systematic review aimed to determine the impact of PR program characteristics (mode, length, commencement, frequency, location, and supervision) on clinical outcomes following an exacerbation of COPD. Methods Studies were screened from Medline, Medline in progress, Embase, CINAHL, SCOPUS, CENTRAL, and PEDro. Included studies were randomized controlled trials of early PR after an exacerbation of COPD (commenced during hospital stay or ≤4 wk of hospital discharge). The primary outcomes were hospital readmissions and mortality. Results Thirty studies were included. Exercise training alone was delivered in 43% of studies. Program duration varied from length of inpatient stay to 12 wk. The interventions commenced as early as ≤24 hr of hospitalization for acute exacerbation, and up to 2 wk after discharge. Early PR was compared to usual care, and no studies made a direct comparison of the program characteristics of interest. Program characteristics associated with reduced risk of hospital admission were commencement after hospital discharge, duration longer than 3 wk, and programs that included exercise training and education (relative risk of readmission range 0.6-0.79); however, it was not possible to determine which of these characteristics made the most important contribution. Mortality risk did not vary according to PR program characteristics. Conclusion Programs >3 wk, started after hospital discharge or including an educational component in addition to exercise, were most effective at reducing hospital readmissions.

Background - Pulmonary rehabilitation is a proven, effective intervention for people with chronic respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD) and bronchiectasis. However, relatively few people attend or complete a program, due to factors including a lack of programs, issues associated with travel and transport, and other health issues. Traditionally, pulmonary rehabilitation is delivered in‐person on an outpatient basis at a hospital or other healthcare facility (referred to as centre‐based pulmonary rehabilitation). Newer, alternative modes of pulmonary rehabilitation delivery include home‐based models and the use of telehealth. Telerehabilitation is the delivery of rehabilitation services at a distance, using information and communication technology. To date, there has not been a comprehensive assessment of the clinical efficacy or safety of telerehabilitation, or its ability to improve uptake and access to rehabilitation services, for people with chronic respiratory disease. Objectives - To determine the effectiveness and safety of telerehabilitation for people with chronic respiratory disease. Search methods - We searched the Cochrane Airways Trials Register, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; six databases including MEDLINE and Embase; and three trials registries, up to 30 November 2020. We checked reference lists of all included studies for additional references, and handsearched relevant respiratory journals and meeting abstracts. Selection criteria - All randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of telerehabilitation for the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation were eligible for inclusion. The telerehabilitation intervention was required to include exercise training, with at least 50% of the rehabilitation intervention being delivered by telerehabilitation. Data collection and analysis - We used standard methods recommended by Cochrane. We assessed the risk of bias for all studies, and used the ROBINS‐I tool to assess bias in non‐randomised controlled clinical trials. We assessed the certainty of evidence with GRADE. Comparisons were telerehabilitation compared to traditional in‐person (centre‐based) pulmonary rehabilitation, and telerehabilitation compared to no rehabilitation. We analysed studies of telerehabilitation for maintenance rehabilitation separately from trials of telerehabilitation for initial primary pulmonary rehabilitation. Main results - We included a total of 15 studies (32 reports) with 1904 participants, using five different models of telerehabilitation. Almost all (99%) participants had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Three studies were controlled clinical trials. For primary pulmonary rehabilitation, there was probably little or no difference between telerehabilitation and in‐person pulmonary rehabilitation for exercise capacity measured as 6‐Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) (mean difference (MD) 0.06 metres (m), 95% confidence interval (CI) ‐10.82 m to 10.94 m; 556 participants; four studies; moderate‐certainty evidence). There may also be little or no difference for quality of life measured with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score (MD ‐1.26, 95% CI ‐3.97 to 1.45; 274 participants; two studies; low‐certainty evidence), or for breathlessness on the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) dyspnoea domain score (MD 0.13, 95% CI ‐0.13 to 0.40; 426 participants; three studies; low‐certainty evidence). Participants were more likely to complete a program of telerehabilitation, with a 93% completion rate (95% CI 90% to 96%), compared to a 70% completion rate for in‐person rehabilitation. When compared to no rehabilitation control, trials of primary telerehabilitation may increase exercise capacity on 6MWD (MD 22.17 m, 95% CI ‐38.89 m to 83.23 m; 94 participants; two studies; low‐certainty evidence) and may also increase 6MWD when delivered as maintenance rehabilitation (MD 78.1 m, 95% CI 49.6 m to 106.6 m; 209 participants; two studies; low‐certainty evidence). No adverse effects of telerehabilitation were noted over and above any reported for in‐person rehabilitation or no rehabilitation. Authors' conclusions - This review suggests that primary pulmonary rehabilitation, or maintenance rehabilitation, delivered via telerehabilitation for people with chronic respiratory disease achieves outcomes similar to those of traditional centre‐based pulmonary rehabilitation, with no safety issues identified. However, the certainty of the evidence provided by this review is limited by the small number of studies, of varying telerehabilitation models, with relatively few participants. Future research should consider the clinical effect of telerehabilitation for individuals with chronic respiratory diseases other than COPD, the duration of benefit of telerehabilitation beyond the period of the intervention, and the economic cost of telerehabilitation.

BackgroundThe most severe thunderstorm asthma (TA) event occurred in Melbourne on the 21st November 2016 and during this period, daily pollen information was available and accessible on smart devices via an App. An integrated survey within the App allows users to self-report symptoms.ObjectiveTo explore patterns of symptom survey results during the period when the TA event occurred.MethodsSymptom data from the Melbourne Pollen Count and Forecast App related to asthma history, hay fever symptoms, and medication use was explored. A one-week control period before and after the event was considered. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to assess associations between sex, age, symptoms, and medication use.ResultsOf the 28,655 responses, during the 2016 pollen season, younger (18 to 40 years) males, with no hay fever and no asthma were the most single and regular responders. During the TA event for new users, sex was only significantly associated with hay fever ( p = 0.008) of which 60.2% of females’ responses reported having hay fever, while 43% of males’ responses did not. Those with mild symptoms peaked during the TA event.ConclusionsMany individuals completed the survey on the app for the first time during the TA event indicating the potential of digital technologies to be used as indicators of health risk among populations at risk of TA events.

BackgroundGPs have limited capacity to routinely provide smoking cessation support. New strategies are needed to reach all smokers within this setting.AimTo evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-coordinated interdisciplinary smoking cessation intervention delivered in Australian general practice.Design and settingSecondary analysis of a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in 41 Australian general practices.MethodIn all, 690 current smokers were included in this study: 373 from intervention clinics (n = 21) and 317 from control clinics (n = 18). A total of 166 current smokers had spirometry-confirmed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the intervention clinics, trained pharmacists provided smoking cessation support plus Quitline referral. Control clinics provided usual care plus Quitline referral. Those with COPD in the intervention group (n = 84) were referred for home medicines review (HMR) and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HomeBase), which included further smoking cessation support. Outcomes included carbon monoxide (CO)-validated smoking abstinence, self-reported use of smoking cessation aids, and differences between groups in readiness-to-quit score at 6 months.ResultsIntention-to-treat analysis showed similar CO-validated abstinence rates at 6 months in the intervention (4.0%) and control clinics (3.5%). No differences were observed in readiness-to-quit scores between groups at 6 months. CO-validated abstinence rates were similar in those who completed HMR and at least six sessions of HomeBase to those with COPD in usual care.ConclusionA pharmacist-coordinated interdisciplinary smoking cessation intervention when integrated in a general practice setting had no advantages over usual care. Further research is needed to evaluate the effect of HMR and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation on smoking abstinence in smokers with COPD.

Adolescent asthma is still a major problem with poor adherence to treatment. Globally, adolescents are devoted users of smartphone technologies and app use in asthma self-management may improve adherence. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of mobile technology in improving asthma outcomes in adolescents. We conducted an extensive review of the peer-review literature of studies with populations consisting of children and adolescents under 18 years in seven bibliographic databases and Google Scholar. All study designs were considered. Quality assessment of included studies were independently assessed and reported. The search identified 291 articles; of the 16 eligible full-text papers, 8 met the review criteria, reporting two interventional, two qualitative and four observational studies. Samples ranged from 12 to 21 participants. Heterogeneity related to study design and the methods of the included studies prevented meta-analysis. Nevertheless, the intervention studies reported a positive effect of smartphone apps on asthma control, medication adherence and self-efficacy. Smartphone apps may be an effective asthma control tool especially among adolescents who are major users of smartphones; however, conclusions are limited by a lack of controlled trials and adequate sample sizes.

Bruna Wageck,1 Narelle S Cox,1– 3 Christine F McDonald,3– 5 Angela T Burge,1– 3,6 Ajay Mahal,7 Catherine J Hill,3,8 Annemarie L Lee,2,3,6 Rosemary Moore,3,8 Caroline Nicolson,9,10 Paul O’Halloran,11 Aroub Lahham,1– 3 Rebecca Gillies,1,8 Anne E Holland1– 3,6 1La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; 2Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 3Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Melbourne, Australia; 4Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; 5Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 6Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia; 7The Nossal Institute of Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 8Department of Physiotherapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; 9Department of Pulmonary Hypertension, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia; 10Physiotherapy Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 11Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, AustraliaCorrespondence: Anne E HollandMonash University, Central Clinical School, Level 6, Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, AustraliaTel +61 3 99030214Email a.holland@alfred.org.auBackground: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its benefits are poorly maintained. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COPD exacerbations in the year following pulmonary rehabilitation on outcomes at 12 months.Methods: This was a secondary analysis from a trial of home versus hospital-based rehabilitation in COPD, with 12 months of follow-up. Moderate and severe exacerbations were identified using administrative data (prescriptions) and hospital records (admissions) respectively. The impact of exacerbations at 12 months following pulmonary rehabilitation was evaluated for quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire, CRQ), dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council, mMRC), exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance, 6MWD) and objectively measured physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA).Results: A total of 166 participants were included, with mean age (SD) 69 (9) years and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 49 (19)% predicted. Moderate exacerbations occurred in 68% and severe exacerbations in 34% of participants. Experiencing a severe exacerbation was an independent predictor of worse 12-month outcomes for CRQ (total, fatigue and emotional function domains), mMRC, 6MWD and MVPA (all p< 0.05). Participants who completed pulmonary rehabilitation were less likely to have a severe exacerbation (29% vs 48%, p=0.02). Severe exacerbations were more likely in those with worse baseline CRQ total (odds ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99) and FEV1%predicted (0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99).Conclusion: Severe exacerbations occur frequently following pulmonary rehabilitation and predict worse 12-month outcomes. Strategies to maintain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation should address exacerbation prevention and management.Keywords: COPD, exacerbations, pulmonary rehabilitation, long term maintenance, predictors

IntroductionInterstitial lung diseases are characterised by scarring of lung tissue that leads to reduced transfer of oxygen into the blood, decreased exercise capacity and premature death. Ambulatory oxygen therapy may be used to treat exertional oxyhaemoglobin desaturation, but there is little evidence to support its efficacy and there is wide variation in clinical practice. This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ambulatory oxygen versus ambulatory air in people with fibrotic interstitial lung disease and exertional desaturation.Methods and analysisA randomised, controlled trial with blinding of participants, clinicians and researchers will be conducted at trial sites in Australia and Sweden. Eligible participants will be randomised 1:1 into two groups. Intervention participants will receive ambulatory oxygen therapy using a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) during daily activities and control participants will use an identical POC modified to deliver air. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. The primary outcome is change in physical activity measured by number of steps per day using a physical activity monitor (StepWatch). Secondary outcomes are functional capacity (6-minute walk distance), health-related quality of life (St George Respiratory Questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L and King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease Questionnaire), breathlessness (Dyspnoea-12), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), physical activity level (GENEActive), oxygen saturation in daily life, POC usage, and plasma markers of skeletal muscle metabolism, systematic inflammation and oxidative stress. A cost-effectiveness evaluation will also be undertaken.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted in Australia by Alfred Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/18/Alfred/42) with governance approval at all Australian sites, and in Sweden (Lund Dnr: 2019-02963). The results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presented at conferences and disseminated to consumers in publications for lay audiences.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03737409).

Background Patients with COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 will most probably have a need for rehabilitation during and directly after the hospitalisation. Data on safety and efficacy are lacking. Healthcare professionals cannot wait for published randomised controlled trials before they can start these rehabilitative interventions in daily clinical practice, as the number of post-COVID-19 patients increases rapidly. The Convergence of Opinion on Recommendations and Evidence process was used to make interim recommendation for the rehabilitation in the hospital and post-hospital phase in COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients, respectively. Methods 93 experts were asked to fill out 13 multiple choice questions. Agreement of directionality was tabulated for each question. At least 70% agreement on directionality was necessary to make consensus suggestions. Results 76 experts (82%) reached consensus on all questions based upon indirect evidence and clinical experience on the need for early rehabilitation during the hospital admission, the screening for treatable traits with rehabilitation in all patients at discharge and 6–8 weeks after discharge, and around the content of rehabilitation for these patients. It advocates for assessment of oxygen needs at discharge and more comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation needs including physical as well as mental aspects 6–8 weeks after discharge. Based on the deficits identified multidisciplinary rehabilitation should be offered with attention for skeletal muscle and functional as well as mental restoration. Conclusions This multinational task force recommends early, bedside rehabilitation for patients affected by severe COVID-19. The model of pulmonary rehabilitation may suit as a framework, particularly in a subset of patients with long term respiratory consequences., Experts recommend identification of unmet rehabilitation needs in patients with COVID-19 who are discharged from the hospital, and consequent tailored rehabilitative inteventions, accompanied by compliance with the highest biosecurity standards.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between pre- and post-stroke physical activity levels is underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether self-reported physical activity changes from pre-stroke to two years post-stroke; and to explore the relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity post-stroke. METHODS: Stroke survivors admitted to rehabilitation were included in this observational study. Participants were assessed at rehabilitation discharge (five months post-stroke) and two years later. Participants were asked about their pre-stroke and current activity levels. The Sensewear Armband was worn for one week to measure physical activity at each timepoint. The relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity was explored with Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple regression models. RESULTS: Sixty-eight stroke survivors (65% male, mean age 64) participated at baseline. Fifty participants reported undertaking physical activity pre-stroke, and 48 of these active participants reported undertaking physical activity two years post-stroke. At two years one third of the active participants reported doing the same type of activity (primarily walking). Approximately one third reported doing the same type of activity and more and approximately one third had to modify the type of activity undertaken. Self-reporting of physical activity time was positively correlated with objective measures of physical activity at two years (r = 0.61, p

Background The optimal method to collect accurate healthcare utilisation data in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not well established. The aim of this study was to determine feasibility and compare self-report and administrative data sources to capture health care resource use in people with COPD for 12 months following pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods This is a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled equivalence trial comparing centre-based and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation. Healthcare utilisation data were collected for 12 months following pulmonary rehabilitation from self-report (monthly telephone questionnaires and diaries) and administrative sources (Medicare Benefits Schedule, medical records). Feasibility was assessed by the proportion of self-reports completed and accuracy was established using month-by-month and per participant comparison of self-reports with administrative data. Results Data were available for 145/163 eligible study participants (89%, mean age 69 (SD 9) years, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s 51 (SD 19) % predicted; n = 83 male). For 1725 months where data collection was possible, 1160 (67%) telephone questionnaires and 331 (19%) diaries were completed. Accuracy of recall varied according to type of health care encounter and self-report method, being higher for telephone questionnaire report of emergency department presentation (Kappa 0.656, p p p p Conclusion For self-reported methods of healthcare utilisation in people with COPD following pulmonary rehabilitation, monthly telephone questionnaires were more frequently completed and more accurate than diaries. Compared to administrative records, self-reports of emergency department presentations and inpatient admissions were more accurate than for general practitioner and medical specialist appointments. Trial registration NCT01423227 at clinicaltrials.gov

Objectives To investigate if Rocktape combined with exercise is more effective than exercise and sham taping in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Design Single institution, prospective, participant and assessor blinded, randomised study. Setting Outpatient physiotherapy department of a tertiary hospital. Participants Thirty-six patients with knee osteoarthritis. Intervention Participants were randomised to either; 1) Rocktape plus exercise or 2) sham taping plus exercise. Main outcome measures A linear mixed-effect model was used to assess differences between groups over time for the primary outcome measure (VAS at rest and movement) as well as the secondary outcome measures. Secondary measures included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), 30 second sit to stand, 40 m walk and stair climb tests. Exercise adherence and analgesia use were recorded via a diary. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately prior to the first tape application and immediately following first taping (both at one week after baseline), then two and five weeks after first tape application. Results There were no between group differences over time in pain at rest [median Rocktape group 0.035 (IQR −0.1 to 3.0) vs median sham 0 (IQR 0 to 1.6) mean adj diff (0.053, 95% CI −0.17 to 0.27)] or with movement [median tape group 2.45 (IQR −0.5 to 4.8) vs median sham 2.0 (IQR 0.8 to 4.1) mean adj diff 0.072, 95% CI −0.20 to 0.35]. There were no significant differences between groups in any of the KOOS subscales or performance-based tests administered over time. Pain on movement significantly improved over time in both groups, whilst pain at rest only improved at the final time point. Conclusion There was no additional benefit of Rocktape over sham tape in patients with knee osteoarthritis who were completing a home exercise program over five weeks. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry (#NCT02049216)

Aim: To evaluate changes in physical activity (PA) following exercise training on air or oxygen in people with COPD and EID. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the "suppORT" trial was performed. COPD participants who desaturated to SpO2 Results: 87 participants [mean (SD) age 70 (8) years; FEV1 48 (18)% predicted] completed training (OG n=48; AG n=39). There was no significant difference in the change in PA after training in the OG compared to the AG (mean difference (95% CI) of 333 steps/day (-164 to 831)). Twenty participants (18%) were responders (12 in the OG (25%), 8 in the AG (21%)). The responders had a mean improvement of 1,307 (753) steps/day compared to a 523 (909) steps/day decline in non-responders (p Conclusion: Most people with COPD and EID did not demonstrate an increase in PA following individually-prescribed exercise training on air or oxygen.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective treatment for people with chronic respiratory disease, but is delivered to Aims: To compare the efficacy of home-based telerehabilitation (TR) and centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in people with chronic respiratory disease. Methods: Assessor blinded, multi-centre RCT, powered for equivalence. Participants were randomised to centre-based PR or home-based TR. Both programs were 2 sessions/week for 8 weeks. Telerehabilitation used a stationary cycle and group videoconferencing to enable social interaction and real time monitoring. The primary outcome was change in chronic respiratory disease questionnaire dyspnea domain (CRQ-D) at end rehabilitation, with a pre-specified equivalence margin of 2.5 points. Results: We randomised 142 participants to PR (n=72) or TR (n=72). Both groups had clinically important improvements in CRQ-D following rehabilitation (TR mean (95%CI) 4 (2 to 5) vs PR 5 (3 to 7)), however equivalence of TR was not confirmed (mean difference between groups (MD) -1 point (-3 to 1)), with similar findings at 12 month followup (MD -1 point (-4 to 1)). The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) was equivalent at end rehabilitation (MD -6 metres (-26 to 15) and at 12 months superiority of TR could not be excluded (MD 14 metres (-10 to 38). The proportion of participants who completed ≥70% of prescribed sessions was high (84% TR vs 79% PR). Conclusions: Home-based TR achieved clinically important gains in health-related quality of life, but equivalence to centre-based PR was not confirmed.

Background The adoption of research evidence to improve client outcomes may be enhanced using the principles of implementation science. This systematic review aimed to understand the effect of involving consumers to change health professional behaviours and practices. The barriers and enablers to consumer engagement will also be examined. Methods We searched Medline, CINAHL, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and PDQ-Evidence from 2004 to February 2019. Implementation studies involving consumers in at least one phase (development, intervention or facilitation) of an intervention that aimed to change health professional behaviour to align with evidence-based practice were included. Studies in the areas of paediatrics and primary care were excluded. Two review authors independently screened studies for inclusion, and one author extracted data and conducted quality assessments with review of a second author. Knowledge translation interventions were categorized using the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care taxonomy. The primary outcome was measures of change in health professional behaviour. Results Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of three studies found support for consumer involvement in changing healthcare professionals’ behaviour (Hedges’ g = 0.41, 95% CI [0.27, 0.57], P Conclusions Consumer involvement rarely moves beyond the design phase of knowledge translation research in healthcare settings. Further research of the barriers to and effect of increased consumer engagement across all stages of knowledge translation interventions is needed. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42019119179.

In addition to facilitating healthcare delivery planning, reliable information about prognosis is essential for treatment decisions in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This review aimed to evaluate the prognosis of patients with IPF without anti-fibrotic therapy. We included all cohort studies and the placebo arms of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in IPF and follow-up of ≥12 months. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. A total of 154 cohort studies and 16 RCTs were included. The pooled proportions of mortality were 0.12 (95% CI 0.09–0.14) at 1–2 years, 0.38 (95% CI 0.34–0.42) between 2–5 years, and 0.69 (95% CI 0.59–0.78) at ≥5 years. The pooled mean overall survival was 4 years (95% CI 3.7–4.6) for studies with a follow-up duration of 10 years. At versuscohort study participants (0.14 (95% CI 0.12–0.17)). This review provides comprehensive information on the prognosis of IPF, which can inform treatment discussions with patients and comparisons for future studies with new therapies.

Objectives: To identify exercise tests that are suitable for home-based or remote administration in people with chronic lung disease. Methods: Rapid review of studies that reported home-based or remote administration of an exercise test in people with chronic lung disease, and studies reporting their clinimetric (measurement) properties. Results: 84 studies were included. Tests used at home were the 6-minute walk test (6MWT, two studies), sit-to-stand tests (STS, five studies), Timed Up and Go (TUG, 4 studies) and step tests (two studies). Exercise tests administered remotely were the 6MWT (two studies) and step test (one study). Compared to centre-based testing the 6MWT distance was similar when performed outdoors but shorter when performed at home (two studies). The STS, TUG and step tests were feasible, reliable (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.80), valid (concurrent and known groups validity) and moderately responsive to pulmonary rehabilitation (medium effect sizes). These tests elicited less desaturation than the 6MWT, and validated methods to prescribe exercise were not reported. Discussion: The STS, step and TUG tests can be performed at home, but do not accurately document desaturation with walking or allow exercise prescription. Patients at risk of desaturation should be prioritised for centre-based exercise testing when this is available.

ObjectivesTo identify exercise tests that are suitable for home-based or remote administration in people with chronic lung disease.MethodsRapid review of studies that reported home-based or remote administration of an exercise test in people with chronic lung disease, and studies reporting their clinimetric properties.Results84 studies were included. Tests used at home were the 6-minute walk test (6MWT, 2 studies), sit-to-stand tests (STS, 5 studies), Timed Up and Go (TUG, 4 studies) and step tests (2 studies). Exercise tests administered remotely were the 6MWT (2 studies) and step test (1 study). Compared to centre-based testing the 6MWT distance was similar when performed outdoors but shorter when performed at home (2 studies). The STS, TUG and step tests were feasible, reliable (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.80), valid (concurrent and known groups validity) and moderately responsive to pulmonary rehabilitation (medium effect sizes). These tests elicited less desaturation than the 6MWT, and validated methods to prescribe exercise were not reported.DiscussionThe STS, step and TUG tests can be performed at home, but do not accurately document desaturation with walking or allow exercise prescription. Patients at risk of desaturation should be prioritised for centre-based exercise testing when this is available.

Objectives The aims of this study were to determine, in Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs for people with COPD: (1) whether oxygen saturation (SpO2) was monitored during exercise testing; (2) whether supplemental oxygen was available during exercise testing and/or training; (3) whether oxygen was prescribed during exercise training; and the reason for providing oxygen; (4) whether a protocol was available for supplemental oxygen prescription during exercise training. Methods This was a cross-sectional multi-center study using a purposed-designed survey. De-identified survey data were analyzed and the absolute number and percentage of responses were recorded for each question. Results The survey was sent to 261 pulmonary rehabilitation programs and 142 surveys (54%) were available for analysis. Oxygen saturation was monitored during exercise testing in 92% of programs. Supplemental oxygen was available in the majority of programs during exercise testing (82%) and training (84%). The rationale cited by 87 programs (73%) for prescribing oxygen during exercise training was maintaining SpO2 above a threshold ranging from SpO2 80–88%. Forty-five (32%) programs had a protocol for oxygen prescription during exercise training. Conclusion While monitoring of SpO2 during exercise testing and using supplemental oxygen during testing and training is common in Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs, few programs had a protocol in place for the prescription of supplemental oxygen for people with COPD who were not on long-term oxygen therapy. This may be due to lack of strong evidence to support the use of supplemental oxygen during exercise training.

Objective A Modified Incremental Step Test (MIST) performed in the home may facilitate entirely home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs. The aims of this study were to investigate the reliability and responsiveness, and the utility of the MIST for exercise prescription in people with stable chronic lung disease. Methods The MIST was undertaken at the center and home in random order, before and after pulmonary rehabilitation, with 2 tests at each time point. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Responsiveness was evaluated as effect size. The minimal important difference was appraised using distribution and anchor-based methods. In a substudy, physiological responses to MIST were measured by a portable metabolic system, followed by a constant step rate test at 60% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), to evaluate utility for exercise prescription. Results Forty-six participants were recruited (29% of eligible candidates). There was excellent reliability for number of steps recorded in home- and center-based settings (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.954, 95% CI = 0.915–0.976). A small-moderate effect size was demonstrated following pulmonary rehabilitation (0.34), and the minimal detectable change was 7 steps. All participants in the substudy achieved 60% of VO2peak and achieved steady state by the fourth minute, with 60% of VO2peak corresponding to a mean 37% (95% CI = 29–44) of the MIST final level. Conclusions The MIST is reliable and responsive to pulmonary rehabilitation in people with stable chronic respiratory disease. It provides new opportunities to assess exercise capacity, prescribe exercise training, and reassess exercise program outcomes in environments where established field walking tests are not feasible. Impact Pulmonary rehabilitation is a highly effective treatment that is underutilized worldwide. Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation may improve access for patients and deliver equivalent clinical outcomes but is limited by the availability of a robust exercise test that can be used at home to assess exercise capacity and prescribe training intensity. This study tested the clinimetric properties of the MIST and demonstrated a new way to assess exercise capacity, prescribe exercise training of an appropriate intensity, and reassess exercise capacity in environments where established field walking tests are not feasible.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine whether maintenance pulmonary rehabilitation improves exercise performance, health‐related quality of life and healthcare utilization in people with COPD in comparison to usual care.

Objective The longer-term impact of injury is increasingly recognized, but the early phases of recovery are less well understood. The best tools to measure early recovery of mobility and physical function following traumatic injury are unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical utility, validity, reliability, and responsiveness of 4 mobility and physical function measures in patients following traumatic injury. Methods In this cohort, measurement-focused study (n = 100), the modified Iowa Level of Assistance Score, Acute Care Index of Function, Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care “6 Clicks” short forms, and Functional Independence Measure were completed during first and last physical therapy sessions. Clinical utility and floor and ceiling effects were documented. Known-groups validity (early vs late in admission and by discharge destination), predictive validity (using 6-month postinjury outcomes data), and responsiveness were established. Interrater reliability was assessed in 30 patients with stable mobility and function. Results Participants had a median age of 52 years (interquartile range = 33–68 years), and 68% were male. The modified Iowa Level of Assistance Score, Acute Care Index of Function, and “6 Clicks” short forms were quick to administer (an extra median time of 30 seconds–1 minute), but the Functional Independence Measure took much longer (extra median time of 5 minutes). At the last physical therapy session, ceiling effects were present for all measures except the Functional Independence Measure (18%–33% of participants). All had strong known-groups validity (early vs late in admission and by discharge destination). All were responsive (effect sizes >1.0) and had excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.79–0.94). Conclusion All 4 measures were reliable, valid, and responsive; however, their clinical utility varied, and ceiling effects were common at physical therapy discharge. Impact This study is an important step toward evidence-based measurement in acute trauma physical therapy care. It provides critical information to guide assessment of mobility and physical function in acute trauma physical therapy, which may facilitate benchmarking across different hospitals and trauma centers and further progress the science and practice of physical therapy following traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND: Field walking tests are commonly used in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases for assessment of functional capacity. However, the physiological demands and magnitude of desaturation on 6-min walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), and endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) have not been investigated in patients with bronchiectasis. The objective of this study was to compare the physiological responses and the magnitude of desaturation of subjects with bronchiectasis when performing the 6MWT, ISWT, and ESWT. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects underwent the 6MWT, ISWT, and ESWT on 3 different days. Pulmonary gas exchange, heart rate, and SpO2 were measured in all tests. RESULTS: There were no differences in the peak rate of oxygen uptake, ventilation, dyspnea, and leg fatigue between the tests. Equivalent cardiac demand (ie, heart rate at peak) was observed with the 6MWT (137 ± 21 beats/min) and the ESWT (142 ± 21 beats/min), but this was lower in the ISWT (135 ± 19 beats/min) compared to ESWT (P CONCLUSIONS: The 6MWT, ISWT, and ESWT induced similar physiological responses at the peak of exercise, eliciting a vigorous exercise intensity. The magnitude of desaturation was similar across tests. This means these tests can be used interchangeably for evaluation of exercise-induced desaturation.

Introduction: Regular exercise and physical activity participation are recommended in guideline-based care for individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) across the spectrum of age and disease severity. However, the best training methods to improve physical function and encourage ongoing exercise and activity participation are not clear, which is an ongoing challenge for clinicians. Areas covered: This perspective provides an overview of current evidence for exercise and physical activity relative to clinical outcomes and health-care utilization in people with CF, and highlights areas of future research need. Expert commentary: What kind, how much, how often, and how best to support people with CF to be physically active is uncertain. Whether new methods of training, the use of technology, or pharmaceutical developments could best deliver increased activity and physiological benefit without increased therapeutic burden is unclear. At present, if people with CF are going to be physically active, seemingly they should aim to perform this activity in the way most likely to confer some health benefit i.e. concerted exercise bouts of at least 10 min in addition to any incidental (habitual) activity performed during the course of daily life.

Background Multimorbidity (the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual) is a growing healthcare burden internationally; however, healthcare and disease management, including rehabilitation, is often delivered in single-disease siloes. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the safety and feasibility of multimorbidity rehabilitation compared to a disease-specific rehabilitation program in people with multimorbidity and (2) gather preliminary data regarding clinical outcomes and resource utilization to inform the design of future trials. Methods A pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Seventeen individuals with a chronic disease eligible for disease-specific rehabilitation (pulmonary, cardiac, heart failure rehabilitation) and at least one other chronic condition were recruited. The intervention group attended multimorbidity exercise rehabilitation and the control group attended disease-specific exercise rehabilitation. Participants attended twice-weekly exercise training and weekly education for 8 weeks. Feasibility measures included numbers screened, recruited, and completed. Other outcome measures were change in functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6MWT)), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), activities of daily living (ADL), and resource utilization. Results Sixty-one people were screened to recruit seventeen participants (nine intervention, eight control); one withdrew prior to rehabilitation. Participants were mostly male (63%) with a mean (SD) age of 69 (9) years and body mass index of 29 (6). The intervention group attended a mean (SD) of 12 (6) sessions, and the control group attended 11 (4) sessions. One participant (6%) withdrew after commencing; two (12%) were lost to follow-up. The intervention group 6MWT distance increased by mean (SD) of 22 (45) meters (95% confidence interval − 16 to 60) compared to 22 (57) meters (95% confidence interval − 69 to 114) (control). Conclusions It was feasible to recruit people with multimorbidity to a randomized controlled trial of rehabilitation. A large RCT with the power to make significant conclusions about the impact on the primary and secondary outcomes is now required. Trial registration The trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry available at http://www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12614001186640. Registered 12/11/2014. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40814-018-0369-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

New treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have improved survival; however, the complexity of care may be difficult for patients. The aim of this study was to assess the patient experience of modern IPF care.A qualitative study was undertaken for 100 people with IPF with a range of disease severity (forced vital capacity range: 46-106% predicted). Participants were asked about their experience of care using semi-structured interviews. Two investigators independently undertook analysis using the principles of grounded theory.Participants reported dissatisfaction with information received about IPF, particularly at the time of diagnosis. Most were enthusiastic about the benefits of specialist IPF centres including regular monitoring, frequent contact with health professionals and access to clinical trials. However, the burden of travel to specialist centres and costs of treatment were significant. Many reported that side effects of anti-fibrotics caused them to titrate or pause therapy, sometimes without consulting their treating team. Co-morbid medical conditions had a negative impact on well-being and highlighted poor coordination of care. Participants perceived a responsibility for self-management that included exercise, diet, vaccination and treatment of chest infections; many felt this active role should receive more positive emphasis from health professionals.These data show opportunities to improve modern IPF care including accurate and timely provision of information, improving access to specialist care, more support for managing treatment side effects and better coordination of care for patients with co-morbid conditions. Future research should explore the impact of self-management strategies on IPF outcomes.

Background The intensive care unit mobility scale (IMS) is reliable, valid and responsive. Establishing the minimal important difference (MID) of the IMS is important in order to detect clinically significant changes in mobilization. Objective To calculate the MID of the IMS in intensive care unit patients. Methods Prospective multi center observational study. The IMS was collected from admission and discharge physiotherapy assessments. To calculate the MID we used; anchor based methods (global rating of change) and two distribution-based methods (standard error of the mean and effect size). Results We enrolled 184 adult patients; mean age 62.0 years, surgical, trauma, and medical. Anchor based methods gave a MID of 3 with area under the curve 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.97). The two distribution based methods gave a MID between 0.89 and 1.40. Conclusion These data increase our understanding of the clinimetric properties of the IMS, improving its utility for clinical practice and research.

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore associations between physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, mobility, mood, fatigue, and cognition over 2 years following stroke rehabilitation discharge. Methods In this longitudinal observational study, survivors of first-ever stroke were evaluated at rehabilitation discharge and 6, 12, and 24 months later. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration (minutes/day) assessed with an electronic monitor was the primary outcome. Further outcomes included step count, the number and duration of MVPA and sedentary bouts, cardiovascular risk factors (eg, blood pressure, fasting lipid profile, body mass index [BMI]), gait speed and endurance, mood, fatigue, and cognition. Associations between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors over time were assessed with random-effects regression modeling. Associations between baseline characteristics and physical activity at 2 years were explored using regression modeling. Results Seventy-nine participants (68.4% men) with a mean age of 65 years (SD = 14) and a median gait speed of 1.2 m/s (interquartile range = 0.8 to 1.4) were included at baseline. Associations were found between higher physical activity (MVPA duration, number and duration of MVPA bouts) and lower BMI. Better gait speed, endurance, and cognition at baseline were associated with higher MVPA and step count at 2 years. Conclusions Duration and bouts of MVPA are associated with BMI. Increasing MVPA and bouts of MVPA may be a valuable treatment goal to reduce cardiovascular risk in survivors of stroke. Impact This 2-year study found that MVPA is associated with important cardiovascular risk factors in people who have survived stroke. Understanding these associations could be useful for developing effective treatments to prevent recurrent stroke. Lay Summary Performing MVPA and accumulating in bouts of at least 10 minutes might be challenging, but it could be an important component of treatments to reduce cardiovascular risk after stroke.

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive chronic condition. Improvements in therapies have resulted in better patient outcomes. The use of technology such as telemonitoring as an additional intervention is aimed at enhancing care and reducing unnecessary acute hospital service use. The influence of verbal communication between health staff and patients to inform decision making regarding use of acute hospital services within telemonitoring studies has not been assessed.MethodA systematic overview of published systematic reviews of COPD and telemonitoring was conducted using ana prioriprotocol to ascertain the impact of verbal communication in telemonitoring studies on health service outcomes such as emergency department attendances, hospitalisation and hospital length of stay. The search of the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, Medline, Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, TROVE, Australian Digital Thesis and Proquest International Dissertations and Theses was conducted in 2017 and updated in September 2019.ResultsSix systematic reviews were identified. All reviews involved home monitoring of COPD symptoms and biometric data. Included reviews reported 5–28 studies with sample sizes ranging from 310 to 2891 participants. Many studies reported in the systematic reviews were excluded as they were telephone support, cost effectiveness studies, and/or did not report the outcomes of interest for this overview. Irrespective of group assignment, verbal communication with the health or research team did not alter the emergency attendance or hospitalisation outcome. The length of stay was longer for those who were assigned home telemonitoring in the majority of studies.ConclusionThis overview of telemonitoring for COPD had small sample sizes and a wide variety of included studies. Communication was not consistent in all included studies. Understanding the context of communication with study participants and the decision-making process for referring patients to various health services needs to be reported in future studies of telemonitoring and COPD.

People with interstitial lung disease (ILD) experience dyspnoea on exertion, poor exercise capacity and reduced health-related quality of life. Whilst new pharmaceutical treatments slow disease progression in some patients, most care options remain supportive [1, 2]. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended for people with ILD, however not all participants have a positive response [3–5]. A recent randomised controlled trial found that the benefits of exercise training were greatest in individuals who were able to progress their exercise training loads according to the study protocol [4]. The aim of this analysis was to identify predictors of the ability to adhere to the exercise progression protocol in people with ILD., In ILD, adherence to the training sessions in pulmonary rehabilitation predicts progression of exercise training loads; declining lung function is an independent predictor of failure to progress training loads http://bit.ly/2Z4x9Nw