Sedentary Behavior Interventions in COPD: A Scoping Review of Strategies, Behavior Change Techniques, and...

Sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for disease progression and mortality in COPD patients. However, there is a lack of systematic research on its intervention strategies in China. We provide, in a domestic context, a scoping synthesis of this field that underscores the necessity for more robust and localized research.

This scoping review aims to clarify the characteristics, effectiveness, and BCTs of sedentary behavior interventions for COPD patients.

Following the scoping review method proposed by Arksey. A comprehensive search was conducted across eight electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, CBM, and VIP. The search time frame encompassed records from the inception of each respective database up to August 20, 2025. The study selection, data extraction, and coding of the BCTs were all performed independently by two researchers.

The 6 included studies (comprising 4 RCTs, one quasi-experimental, and one case-control study) were primarily conducted in China and Europe, with sample sizes ranging from 30 to 327 and intervention durations of 6 to 24 weeks. Four studies reported reduced sedentary time, while two found no statistically significant difference. Guided by the BCW, the interventions in four studies included components such as knowledge education, use of wearable devices, and Nordic walking. Applied BCTs (Goals and Planning, Feedback and Monitoring, etc) primarily targeted the COM-B components of Psychological Capability and Reflective Motivation.

The combined evidence suggests that most interventions reduce both total daily sedentary time and prolonged sitting bouts. However, the evidence base remains limited by regional concentration, short follow-ups, and heterogeneity.