Effectiveness of Standardized Respiratory Physiotherapy in Primary Care

AIMS

To evaluate the effectiveness on the quality of life and various predictive factors of mortality (BODE index, six-minute walk distance, FEV1, dyspnea, and body mass index) and the economic impact of a Standardized Respiratory Physiotherapy program conducted in Primary Care (FREAP) in patients with moderate COPD at 6 months after its implementation.

METHOD

Design: Randomized controlled trial

Location: Tarragona-Reus Primary Care Area of the Catalan Health Service. 14 primary care centres were involved in the project (8 from the Reus-Altebrat Primary Care Service and 6 from the Tarragona-Valls Primary Care Service) and 8 units of physiotherapy.

Participants: 129 patients with moderate COPD treated by primary care teams.

Intervention: FREAP program for 6 months. It consisted of an initial health education session conducted in the primary care health centre, three sessions a week for three weeks of breathing exercises and aerobic, physical training in the primary care health centre and a monthly monitoring appointment for the breathing exercises and training for five months in the patient's home. Altogether, 10 sessions in the primary care health center and 5 sessions at the patients' house. Patients randomized in the control group continued with their usual clinical practice.

Main effect measures: Quality of life (St. George Respiratory Questionnaire -SGRQ-). Predictive factors of mortality (BODE index, six-minute walk distance, FEV1, dyspnea, and body mass index). Economic cost of implementing the FREAP program.