Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and prevention of readmission post exacerbation in chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are well established. However, accessibility to PR programmes is limited by PR programmes mostly being available through hospital clinics only. Utilizing existing workforce and infrastructure in private physiotherapy and exercise physiology practices may be a solution to increase access. METHODS: A mixed-methods assessor-blinded randomized controlled feasibility trial will be conducted in two parts. First, the efficacy of a training programme for private practice (PP) physiotherapists and accredited exercise physiologists who have not previously provided PR will be evaluated. Participant knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide PR will be measured before and after the training and at three months follow-up. Secondly, patient participants with CRD will be randomly allocated to receive twice weekly PP PR for 8 weeks or usual care from their general practitioner (GP). Exercise capacity, HRQoL, and health status will be measured before and after PR. A purposive sample of clinician and patient participants will partake in semi-structured interviews at the study conclusion. Interviews will continue until data saturation is achieved. DISCUSSION: This study will provide data on the feasibility of providing PR by physiotherapists and exercise physiologists in the PP setting. Provision of PR in the PP setting has the potential to increase access to this highly evidence-based intervention to improve outcomes for people with CRD.