Investigating the effect of telerehabilitation on physical and respiratory indicators of patients with chronic respiratory diseases

Studying the effect of telerehabilitation on physical and respiratory indices in patients with chronic respiratory disease

A controlled, parallel-group, single-blind, randomized, phase 3 clinical trial on 80 patients, using a random number table for randomization.

The present study is a clinical trial on patients with COPD referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran. In the control group, patients receive respiratory rehabilitation upon discharge from the hospital. In the intervention group, patients undergo pulmonary telerehabilitation upon discharge in addition to the respiratory rehabilitation program. This study is single-blinded, and the collected information is provided to the person evaluating the outcomes by removing the names and grouping of patients.

Inclusion criteria included the patient's willingness to participate in the research project, COPD diagnosis based on a specialist physician's diagnosis, ability to perform rehabilitation during the days of hospitalization, and exclusion criteria included active cancer, advanced heart failure, advanced renal dysfunction, diabetes or uncontrolled blood pressure, inability of the patient to use a smartphone, and any disorder prohibiting rehabilitation exercises (musculoskeletal, neurological, etc.).

In the intervention group, COPD patients who have undergone specialized treatment and rehabilitation at the center receive a username and password for the rehabilitation site upon discharge from the hospital and undergo telerehabilitation. In the control group, COPD patients receive only the recommended respiratory rehabilitation program.

Functional capacity, number of sit-stands, results of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment questionnaires, and quality of life

Simple randomization method, individual randomization unit, randomization tool: Random number table. For randomization, the Simple Randomization method is used using a random number table. For this purpose, two groups (A, B) are considered. We choose one of the rows of the random number table at will and we know that the numbers in each row will be between 0 and 9. Then we assign the numbers 0-4 to treatment A and the numbers 5-9 to treatment B. Suppose the numbers for the first row are as follows: 0, 5, 2, 7, 8, 4. Therefore, the number 0 is assigned to treatment A, the number 5 to treatment B, the number 2 to treatment A, .... Therefore, the first person receives treatment A, the second person receives treatment B ....

The clinical outcome assessor will not have access to patient grouping and will remain blinded throughout the study. Patients and therapists will not be blinded