Effect on health-related quality of life of ongoing feedback during a 12-month maintenance walking programme in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled trial

Background and objective: In patients with COPD, this study evaluated the effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adding ongoing feedback to a 12-month unsupervised maintenance walking programme.

Methods: Participants were randomized to either an intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). Both groups completed the same 2-month supervised, walking training programme followed by a 12-month unsupervised maintenance walking programme. During the maintenance programme, the IG received ongoing feedback (telephone calls, biofeedback and progressive goal setting) and the CG received no feedback.

Results: A total of 75 participants completed the study (mean (SD): age 69 (8) years; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁ ) 43 (15) % predicted). There was no between-group differences in the magnitude of change in HRQoL when data collected on completion of the 12-month maintenance programme were compared with that collected either before the 2-month supervised programme (mean between-group difference (MD) in total St George's Respiratory Questionnaire change scores: 1 point, 95% CI: -9 to 7) or on completion of the 2-month supervised programme (MD: 4 points, 95% CI -2 to 10).

Conclusion: Following a 2-month supervised walking training programme, ongoing feedback was no more effective than no feedback in maintaining HRQoL during a 12-month unsupervised walking programme.