Pulmonary TELE-REHABilitation Program : Feasibility and Safety Study

Chronic pulmonary disease like interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) are a significant health problem in Canada and around the world. In addition to the respiratory impairment resulting to a progressive dyspnea, these diseases are also characterized by a decrease in exercise tolerance and muscle dysfunction which affect the patient's quality of life. Respiratory rehabilitation is the cornerstone of the management of chronic disease and it includes a set of personalized care mainly delivered in person by a transdisciplinary team and with the objectives of reducing the symptoms felt by the participants and improving their physical and psychosocial condition.

The current containment due to the COVID-19 pandemic increase the sedentary behavior of patients and prevents the holding of any respiratory rehabilitation activity. In this context, tele-rehabilitation appears to be a particularly well-suited solution because it would make it possible to offer a respiratory rehabilitation in a safe and effective manner while minimizing contact with the participants. Although some studies support the feasibility of this intervention, more data is needed to validate its routine clinical application.

The main objective of this study is to verify the safety and the feasibility of delivering pulmonary rehabilitation treatments entirely at home via a telerehabilitation patform developed at the Institut universitraire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Qubec (IUCPQ), and document its effectiveness in people with chronic respiratory disease. The secondary objectives will be: 1) to explore the effects of a telerehabilitation programm on exercise tolerance, muscle function, functional capacity and quality of life, and 2) to assess the satisfaction of participants and health care providers with telerehabilitation.