Activity repertoires and time use in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Understanding the dynamics and aspects of how activity choices impact health and well-being in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important to inform rehabilitation.

To describe, firstly, how much time people living with COPD spend on work, daily living tasks, recreation and rest; secondly, how this population perceived competence, importance and enjoyment related to these activities; thirdly, if differences in such perceptions and time use were associated with the living situation and COPD severity.

This cross-sectional study involved 76 participants (+45 years, COPD, living in ordinary homes), who completed the Occupational Questionnaire (OQ). Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were performed.

Most of the participants' time were spent on daily living activities and recreational activities. Participants spent approx. 80% of their recorded time in OQ on activities they valued, enjoyed and in which they felt competent. Participants living alone scored significantly lower on enjoyment in restful activities than those living in couples (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in perceived competence, importance or enjoyment was found in relation to COPD severity.

Findings underscore the importance of targeting overall daily activity repertoires including compositions of activity types, time use and perceived competence, importance and enjoyment.