Engaging in long-term, home-based, virtual cycling for persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Digital Health Interventions
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Home-based exercise is gaining traction for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) management.
• Understanding long-term engagement with these interventions is crucial for patient adherence and outcomes.
• Virtual cycling presents a novel approach to home-based rehabilitation for COPD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of individuals with COPD engaging in a long-term, home-based, virtual cycling program.
• To understand how participants perceive and make sense of this intervention over time, particularly post-hospitalization.
• To identify factors influencing sustained engagement in home-based COPD exercise interventions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with eleven participants who have moderate to severe COPD.
• Phenomenological-hermeneutic analysis was utilized, involving multiple researchers for interpretive rigor.
• Interviews focused on participants' perceptions and experiences with the virtual cycling intervention.

Main Results:

• Participant engagement was influenced by beliefs, habits, personal preferences, physical resources, and social presence.
• While many found virtual cycling enjoyable and accessible, challenges included technical issues and fluctuating health.
• Engagement was dynamic, shaped by individual, social, and practical circumstances, not static.

Conclusions:

• Long-term home-based virtual cycling can be a motivating and relevant exercise modality for individuals with COPD.
• Sustaining engagement necessitates continuous support and tailored attention to individual barriers.
• This intervention shows potential for improving exercise adherence in COPD management.