This study identified the effectiveness between home-based and hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation program on the quality of life of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Thirty five patients who met the inclusion criteria were referred by physicians and randomized to either hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PRPH) or home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PRPR). The PRPH program was scheduled twice a week for eight weeks at the Physiotherapy Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Whilst, the PRPR group was required to attend sessions at the Physiotherapy Department twice to learn the exercise regimens before carrying out the exercises themselves at home. Subjects were asked to record activitites in a diary and a telephone call was made once every two weeks to ensure compliance towards the exercise regimens. The SF-36 questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale were outcome measures used in assessing status of patients prior to treatment and after intervention at the 8th week Seventeen (48.6%) subjects completed the PRPH and 15 (43%), the PRPR. Results indicated that in the PRPH group there were significant improvements in some of the domains of SF-36, i.e., role physical (p = 0.012) body pain (p = 0.040), general health (p = 0.008) and role emotional (p = 0.012). In the PRPR group, the Geriatric Depression Scale mean score was 1.8 ± 0.41 at baseline compared to 1.69 ± 0.48 following intervention (p > 0.05). Whilst, among the PRPH group, the mean was 1.87 ± 0.35 at baseline and 1.53 ± 0.52 after eight week (p < 0.05). In conclusion, hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation is more effective than the home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in improving the quality of life and reducing depression among patients with COPD.
Keywords: Home Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRPR); Hospital based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRPH); COPD; Quality of life (QOL).