Occupational therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation of disabled COPD patients.

Background: Occupational therapy (OT) has been defined as a task of rehabilitation for disabled patients, giving them maximal function and independence to sustain specific activities of daily living.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of OT as an adjunctive measuring during pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) of hospitalized COPD patients.

Methods: A prospective clinical trial with parallel groups was undertaken in severely disabled COPD patients (n = 71, age 73 +/- 5 years).

Effects of respiratory therapist-directed protocol on prescription and outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD inpatients.

Background: The use of respiratory therapist-directed (RD) protocols in non-ICU hospitalized patients decreases respiratory care charges as compared with physician-directed (PD) protocols.

Objectives: To determine whether RD or PD protocol assessments in COPD patients may impact: (1) prescription of respiratory treatments, and (2) outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP).

Methods: In a retrospective observational case-control study, 73 cases (RD) were compared with controls (PD) matched for age, sex, FEV1 and diagnosis of either chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), pulmonary emphysema (PE) or chronic respiratory insufficiency (CRI).