Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme, including exercise training, education, and behaviour change, is highly recommended in treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A new PR educational material for PR using an interactive three-dimensional (3D) visualisation technique was developed. There is little known regarding using 3D in this setting. The aim was to evaluate, within a PR programme setting, differences between outcomes of education through interactive 3D compared with education by means of 2D visualisation in patients with COPD regarding health-related quality of life (HRQL), physical capacity, exercise self-efficacy, compliance to exercise training, compliance to medication, and the use of health care and to describe learning styles. METHODS: Patients were cluster randomised to PR at the University Hospital clinic, including exercise training, for 10 weeks with education by 3D (n = 27) or education by traditional 2D technique (n = 17). At follow-ups, HRQL, physical capacity, self-efficacy, handgrip strength, compliance to exercise training, compliance to medication and health care utilisation were assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in HRQL in relation to COPD between the groups after 10 weeks. Differences were found in handgrip strength at baseline and at 10 weeks (p < 0.01). The 3D group had improved scores in HRQL assessed with the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-S) psychological domain (p = 0.022). In the 2D group, the LCQ-S social domain (p = 0.028), psychological domain (p = 0.021) and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total (p = 0.050) were increased. The most common learning mode and learning style in both groups was reflective observation and divergent style. CONCLUSION: An interactive education in 3D technique used in a PR programme for patients with COPD yielded no significant differences compared to conventional techniques. Three-dimensional techniques can be used in PR for COPD as an alternative to conventional techniques. ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier:NCT02802618).