Perceptions of Healthcare Students Toward Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs for COPD Patients

Abstract

Background:

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs are an effective non-pharmacological intervention for COPD patients that aim to improve the quality of life and lung function. PR has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity. To enhance COPD management strategies, it is essential to examine students' perceptions toward PR programs. This study would also be considered one of the initial steps in developing a pulmonary rehabilitation education course in the curriculum of all healthcare programs at Georgia State University.

Methods:

The data used for this study were collected from three different healthcare programs at GSU using a convenience sample, including respiratory therapy n = 77, physical therapy n = 71, and occupational therapy n = 30. Data were collected through a self-administered survey consisting of 28 questions on a 5-point Likert-type scale evaluating the perceptions. The survey was examined for face validity by respiratory therapy educators from GSU. IRB permission was obtained. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to analyze each variable to identify differences in the perceptions of healthcare students toward PR programs for COPD patients.

Results:

The study findings revealed statistically significant differences in students' perceptions towards PR programs between healthcare programs. There was a significant difference in positive perceptions was found between students who had experience attending in PR and those who did not (P = .043). The study also showed that there was no significant difference in familiarity with PR programs between respiratory therapy students and other healthcare students. Finally, there were no statistically significant differences in students' perceptions towards factors that could influence COPD patients' decisions not to participate in the PR between healthcare students.

Conclusions:

Healthcare students value and have a positive perception toward PR. The results of this study support the idea of the implantation of pulmonary rehabilitation courses throughout the healthcare program curriculum. Healthcare students felt that they had an important role in PR programs, but barriers to participating and assisting in PR included their own lack of knowledge, time, and clinical experience. They considered that there should be more teaching on pulmonary rehabilitation and that these should feature in both the curriculum and clinical. Further studies with a higher number of participants and different institutions are recommended.