Web-Based Intervention Improves COPD Exacerbation Rates
Results of a new study show that web-based interventions that include a community forum improve physical activity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a top priority for improving exacerbation rates.
Data were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2019 International Conference by study author Emily Wan, MD, MPH, from the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, on Tuesday, May 21.
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To conduct their study, Dr Wan and colleagues randomly assigned 106 US veterans with stable COPD to either a control group using a pedometer alone (n = 49) or an intervention group using a pedometer plus access to an interactive website with feedback, goal setting, disease education, and an online community forum (n = 57).
The website, called Every Step Counts (ESC), was originally created by the researchers for a previous randomized controlled trial, which results showed that ESC increased physical activity in people with COPD.
For the current trial, participants self-reported exercise self-efficacy, which was defined as an individual's belief in his or her ability to exercise despite barriers, at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.
Age, education, FEV1% predicted, baseline self-efficacy, and average daily step count at baseline were similar between the 2 groups.
Baseline self-efficacy and randomization group showed significant interaction on change in daily step count.
“Only in the control group was there a significant relationship between baseline self-efficacy and change in [physical activity],” the researchers wrote. “In the intervention group, all participants increased their average daily step count regardless of baseline self-efficacy.”
“Future studies are needed to further understand the role of exercise self-efficacy on response to [physical activity] promotion to develop effective [physical activity] interventions,” the researchers concluded.
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
Robinson SA, Wan ES, Kantorowski A, Moy ML. Web-based physical activity intervention benefits persons with COPD and low self-efficacy: a randomized controlled trial. Paper presented at: ATS International Conference; May 17-22, 2019; Dallas, TX. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/5789/presentation/16646.