Major elements of the hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme during the first 3 months
| Item | Content | Frequency | Interventionist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical exercise | Upper body exercise: 15–30 min of lifting weights Lower body exercise: 15–30 min on a cycle ergometer | Twice a week for 30–60 min each time | Physiotherapists | |
| Modified Taijiquan exercises | Once a week for 30–60 min | Taijiquan instructor, RA | ||
| Smoking cessation | Group intervention | 3 Sessions | Psychologist, nurse | |
| Individual intervention | Once or twice a week | |||
| Self-management education | COPD knowledge, symptom management, pulmonary rehabilitation treatment and drug utilisation, benefits of physical exercise, nutrition and diet, long-term oxygen therapy | 7 Sessions | Multidisciplinary team: physician, nutritionist, nurse | |
| Psychosocial support | Group activity to facilitate communication among patients; suggesting coping strategies; individual counselling when needed | 2 Sessions | Psychologist, nurse |
In our preliminary study, we reduced the number of traditional Taijiquan procedures from 24 to 6 and verified its effectiveness. Adherence to the intervention was defined as attendance at 75% or more sessions.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RA, research associate.