Article

Our goal was to elucidate how patients with COPD who successfully maintain a
long-term exercise programme understand concordance with maintenance exercise and
see potential solutions. The information, collected from 11 individuals through
six in-depth interviews and one focus-group interview, was analysed by means of
qualitative content analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) perception and
acknowledgement of the disease; (2) the personal manner and empowering skills of
the therapist; (3) perception of the exercise programme; and (4) left to myself-a
pitfall in maintenance. Motivation to continue long-term exercise was related to
how the patient is empowered to come to terms with the situation, the relational
skills and expert competence of the physiotherapist, the patient's perceived
mastery of the intensity of the exercise programme, and the physiotherapist's
ability to individualize the exercise, peer support, and the availability and
continuity of the programme. More attention should be paid to the link between PR
programs and follow-up programmes. Crucial factors in this context are guidance
of a municipal physiotherapist or instructor with extensive knowledge of exercise
for patients with COPD, social interaction with peers in the exercise setting,
enthusiasm, support, and ongoing communication between patients and practitioners
across an entire continuum of care.

Langue : ANGLAIS