BACKGROUND
The traditional pulmonary rehabilitation service for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients has been challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Therefore, there is a need for alternative and innovative methods of pulmonary rehabilitation using remotely supervised VR-based PR services to patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate COPD patients’ acceptability to use VR to self-manage their condition.
METHODS
Eight-week patient trial using an innovative VR pulmonary rehabilitation programme. A total of 56 COPD patients graded MRC four or five registered at patients, selected healthcare centres and hospitals in Staffordshire, UK participated in the qualitative interview.
RESULTS
Using thematic analysis for the qualitative data, four themes and ten sub-themes emerged specific to delivering pulmonary rehabilitation using VR.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this study demonstrates how remotely supervised VR-based pulmonary rehabilitation could help to overcome current issues and limitations associated with providing this service to COPD patients at scale.