Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of research on the use of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation.
Method: Using Medline and CINAHL search engine, experiemental research, titled as ’home-based pulmonary rehabilitation’ and ’chronic lung disease’, statistics were collected. The total 29 experimental studies published between 1981 to 2000 were selected and analyzed according to the ATS guidelines.
Result: 1) The study samples in research were mostly of men, whose lung function was moderate to severe. 2) The total period of the intervention program varied from 5 to 12 week. The program included excercise intervention and educational intervention. Psychosocial intervention was minimal. 3) The outcome of the home-based pulmonary rehabilitation had been measured mostly by physical aspects. Quality of life and cost were less frequently measured. 4) In terms of effectiveness of the home based pulmonary rehabilitation program, physiologic outcome, such as lung function and hematologic markers, there was more ’no effect’ than ’positive effect’, whereas there was more ’positive effect’ in decreasing dyspnea, improving excercise capacity, and improving quality of life.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, future research on home-based pulmonary rehabilitation should be emphasized and provide standardized protocol, including psychosocial intervention, and analyses on cost and quality of life.
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