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- Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy as a career choice-perspective of students and physiotherapists in PortugalPublication . Marques, Alda; Oliveira, Ana; Machado, Ana; Jácome, Cristina; Cruz, Joana; Pinho, Tânia; Hall, Andreia; Alvelos, Helena; Brooks, DinaWe investigated Portuguese physiotherapy students' and physiotherapists' (1) perceptions of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (CRP); (2) factors that influenced their decision to pursue a career in CRP; and (3) suggestions to develop CRP. Online surveys were disseminated to final year students and physiotherapists. A number of 189 students (mean age 23 [SD 6] years; 78% ♀) and 375 physiotherapists (mean age 31 [SD 8] years; 78% ♀) participated. Students' opinions about CRP were positively influenced by lecturers (n = 112, 69%), clinical experiences (n = 110, 68%), and scientific evidence (n = 93, 57%). Only 13% of students were "extremely interested" in specializing in CRP. Interest in the area and clinical exposure were the main factors influencing students to pursue a career in CRP. A percentage of 15 of responding physiotherapists were working in CRP. Their decision to pursue a CRP career was most influenced by their interest in the area (n = 37, 67%) and opportunity to work in acute settings (n = 31; 56%). Main suggestions to develop CRP were (1) include placements in CRP; (2) emphasize health promotion within the curriculum; and (3) develop CRP skills in broader contexts and training. Strategies focusing on changing the curriculum, increasing exposure to CRP, providing good mentorship, developing health promotion activities, and creating postgraduate courses may increase the attractiveness for CRP.
- What Motivates Patients with COPD to Be Physically Active? A Cross-Sectional StudyPublication . Pimenta, Sara; Silva, Cândida G.; Flora, Sofia; Hipólito, Nádia; Burtin, Chris; Oliveira, Ana; Morais, Nuno; Brites-Pereira, Marcelo; Carreira, Bruno P.; Januário, Filipa; Andrade, Lília; Martins, Vitória; Rodrigues, Fátima; Brooks, Dina; Marques, Alda; Cruz, JoanaMotivation can be broadly defined as what moves people to act. Low motivation is a frequently reported factor for the reduced physical activity (PA) levels observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed patients’ motives to be physically active, according to three pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) participation groups (Never PR, Previous PR and Current PR) and explored whether these motives were related to the PA levels and clinical characteristics. The motives to be physically active were assessed with the Exercise Motivation Inventory-2 (EMI-2, 14 motivational factors, five dimensions) and PA with accelerometry (PA groups: <5000 steps/day vs. ≥5000 steps/day). The clinical variables included symptoms, impact of the disease, exercise capacity and comorbidities. Ninety-two patients (67.4 ± 8.1 years, 82.6% male, forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) 48.3 ± 18.9% predicted; 30.4% Never PR, 51% Previous PR and 18.5% Current PR) participated. The motivational dimensions related to health/fitness presented the highest scores (3.8 ± 1.1; 3.4 ± 1.3). The motives to be active were not significantly different between PA groups (p > 0.05) but having less symptoms and ≥two comorbidities were associated with higher scores in psychological/health and body-related motives, respectively (p < 0.05). The findings may encourage health professionals to actively explore with patients their motives to be physically active to individualise PA promotion.
- Relationship between fatigue, physical activity and health-related factors in COPDPublication . Vieira, Ana; Dias, Diana; Miguel, Eunice; Matos, Telma; Flora, Sofia; Silva, Cândida G.; Morais, Nuno; Oliveira, Ana; Caceiro, Rúben; Silva, Fernando; Ribeiro, José; Silva, Sónia; Martins, Vitória; Valente, Carla; Burtin, Chris; Brooks, Dina; Marques, Alda; Cruz, JoanaFatigue is highly prevalent in COPD and may be associated with reduced physical activity (PA) and poor outcomes. This study explored the relationship between fatigue, objectively measured PA and health-related factors in people with COPD. Fatigue was assessed with the Checklist of Individual Strength (CIS20) and CIS20-Subjective Fatigue (CIS20-SF) and PA with Actigraph GT3X monitors (moderate-to-vigorous PA, MVPA; total PA; steps/day). Dyspnoea (modified Medical Research Council, mMRC), exercise tolerance (6-min walk distance, 6MWD), lung function (spirometry) and GOLD A-D were collected. Spearman (ρ) and Pearson (r) correlations and multiple regressions were performed. Variables entered the model if correlation≥0.2. 54 patients participated (68±7 years; 82% men) and 69% reported fatigue (CIS20-SF≥27). Fatigue was significantly correlated with MVPA, steps/day, mMRC, 6MWD, GOLD A-D and FEV1pp (Table 1). In regression models for CIS20 (p=.001; r2=.61) and CIS20-SF (p=.003; r2=.56), dyspnoea was the only significant variable. People with higher scores of fatigue present lower PA levels, although the relationship is weak. Dyspnoea appears to have the largest influence on fatigue.
- Phenotyping Adopters of Mobile Applications Among Patients With COPD: A Cross-Sectional StudyPublication . Flora, Sofia; Hipólito, Nádia; Brooks, Dina; Marques, Alda; Morais, Nuno; Silva, Cândida; Silva, Fernando; Ribeiro, José; Caceiro, Rúben; Carreira, Bruno; Burtin, Chris; Pimenta, Sara; Cruz, Joana; Oliveira, AnaEffectiveness of technology-based interventions to improve physical activity (PA) in people with COPD is controversial. Mixed results may be due to participants' characteristics influencing their use of and engagement with mobile health apps. This study compared demographic, clinical, physical and PA characteristics of patients with COPD using and not using mobile apps in daily life. Patients with COPD who used smartphones were asked about their sociodemographic and clinic characteristics, PA habits and use of mobile apps (general and PA-related). Participants performed a six-minute walk test (6MWT), gait speed test and wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Data were compared between participants using (App Users) and not using (Non-App Users) mobile apps. A sub-analysis was conducted comparing characteristics of PA–App Users and Non-Users. 59 participants were enrolled (73% Male; 66.3 ± 8.3 yrs; FEV1 48.7 ± 18.4% predicted): 59% were App Users and 25% were PA-App Users. Significant differences between App Users and Non-App Users were found for age (64.2 ± 8.9 vs. 69.2 ± 6.3yrs), 6MWT (462.9 ± 91.7 vs. 414.9 ± 82.3 m), Gait Speed (Median 1.5 [Q1–Q3: 1.4–1.8] vs. 2.0 [1.0–1.5]m/s), Time in Vigorous PA (0.6 [0.2–2.8] vs. 0.14 [0.1–0.7]min) and Self-Reported PA (4.0 [1.0–4.0] vs. 1.0 [0.0–4.0] Points). Differences between PA–App Users and Non-Users were found in time in sedentary behavior (764.1 [641.8–819.8] vs. 672.2 [581.2–749.4] min) and self-reported PA (4.0 [2.0–6.0] vs. 2.0 [0.0–4.0] points). People with COPD using mobile apps were younger and had higher physical capacity than their peers not using mobile apps. PA-App Users spent more time in sedentary behaviors than Non-Users although self-reporting more time in PA.
- Assessing caregiving experience in COPD: content validity of the Zarit Burden InterviewPublication . Cruz, Joana; Marques, Alda; Souto-Miranda, Sara; Goldstein, Roger; Brooks, DinaCaring for a relative with COPD influences multiple dimensions of carers' lives. Several instruments have been used to assess the caregiving experience in COPD,1 e.g. the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). This instrument was originally developed for use in carers of people with dementia, however, its applicability in COPD has not been tested. This study explored the content validity of the ZBI in carers of patients with COPD. Ten carers (68.2±6.9yrs, all female) of patients with COPD (74.7±5.3yrs, all male, FEV1=49.2±19.0%pred) participated in cognitive debriefing interviews. They were asked to complete the ZBI and verbalise their thinking process to assess the adequacy of its content and instructions. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for further analysis using the qualitative data analysis software (WebQDA). Responses to the ZBI were also analysed to explore floor/ceiling effects. From the 22 items of the ZBI, 6 items were relevant for all carers and 11 items were not relevant for at least one participant. Five of these 11 items were not relevant for ≥40% of the sample and were related to stress for providing care, embarrassment about patient’s behaviour and impacts on social/leisure time. The remaining 5 items were not consensual. Overall, the ZBI was well-understood although 8 items were less clear for some carers. They suggested: improving questions (n=1) and scoring (n=5); eliminating item 4 (n=2); including 2 questions about the caregiving context (n=1). Responses were mostly distributed in the option ‘Never/Not at all’. The ZBI in its current form should not be used to assess carer experience among those caring for patients with COPD. 1Cruz, J et al. Resp Med 2017;128:13-27
- Improving access to community-based pulmonary rehabilitation: 3R protocol for real-world settings with cost-benefit analysisPublication . Marques, Alda; Jácome, Cristina; Rebelo, Patrícia; Paixão, Cátia; Oliveira, Ana; Cruz, Joana; Freitas, Célia; Rua, Marília; Loureiro, Helena; Peguinho, Cristina; Marques, Fábio; Simões, Adriana; Santos, Madalena; Martins, Paula; André, Alexandra; De Francesco, Sílvia; Martins, Vitória; Brooks, Dina; Simão, PaulaPulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has demonstrated patients' physiological and psychosocial improvements, symptoms reduction and health-economic benefits whilst enhances the ability of the whole family to adjust to illness. However, PR remains highly inaccessible due to lack of awareness of its benefits, poor referral and availability mostly in hospitals. Novel models of PR delivery are needed to enhance its implementation while maintaining cost-efficiency. We aim to implement an innovative community-based PR programme and assess its cost-benefit.
- Assessing caregiving experience in COPD: Content validity of the Zarit Burden Interview in Canadian and Portuguese caregiversPublication . Selzler, Anne-Marie; Brooks, Dina; Marques, Alda; Souto-Miranda, Sara; Goldstein, Roger; Cruz, JoanaInformal caregivers play an important role in chronic disease management but their experience is often neglected. The objective of this study was to explore the content validity of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) in caregivers of individuals with COPD in Canada and Portugal.
- COPD profiles and treatable traits using minimal resources: Identification, decision tree and stability over timePublication . Marques, Alda; Souto-Miranda, Sara; Machado, Ana; Oliveira, Ana; Jácome, Cristina; Cruz, Joana; Enes, Vera; Afreixo, Vera; Martins, Vitória; Andrade, Lília; Valente, Carla; Ferreira, Diva; Simão, Paula; Brooks, Dina; Tavares, Ana HelenaBackground and objective: Profiles of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often do not describe treatable traits, lack validation and/or their stability over time is unknown. We aimed to identify COPD profiles and their treatable traits based on simple and meaningful measures; to develop and validate a decision tree and to explore profile stability over time. Methods: An observational, prospective study was conducted. Clinical characteristics, lung function, symptoms, impact of the disease (COPD Assessment Test—CAT), health-related quality of life, physical activity, lower-limb muscle strength and functional status were collected cross-sectionally and a subsample was followed-up monthly over six months. A principal component analysis and a clustering procedure with k-medoids were applied to identify profiles. A decision tree was developed and validated cross-sectionally. Stability was explored over time with the ratio between the number of timepoints that a participant was classified in the same profile and the total number of timepoints (i.e., 6). Results: 352 people with COPD (67.4 ± 9.9 years; 78.1% male; FEV1 = 56.2 ± 20.6% predicted) participated and 90 (67.6 ± 8.9 years; 85.6% male; FEV1 = 52.1 ± 19.9% predicted) were followed-up. Four profiles were identified with distinct treatable traits. The decision tree included CAT (< 18 or ≥ 18 points); age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years) and FEV1 (< 48 or ≥ 48% predicted) and had an agreement of 71.7% (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.62, p < 0.001) with the actual profiles. 48.9% of participants remained in the same profile whilst 51.1% moved between two (47.8%) or three (3.3%) profiles over time. Overall stability was 86.8 ± 15%. Conclusion: Four profiles and treatable traits were identified with simple and meaningful measures possibly available in low-resource settings. A decision tree with three commonly used variables in the routine assessment of people with COPD is now available for quick allocation to the identified profiles in clinical practice. Profiles and treatable traits may change over time in people with COPD hence, regular assessments to deliver goal-targeted personalised treatments are needed.
- Relação entre a atividade física e o distress associado à sobrecarga em cuidadores informais de indivíduos com DPOCPublication . Ruivo, Adriana; Hipólito, Nádia; Martins, Sara; Marques, Alda; Brooks, Dina; Silva, Cândida G.; Cruz, JoanaIntrodução: A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC) é uma condição que pode levar ao aumento da dependência do doente em relação ao cuidador informal e, consequentemente, promover um aumento do distress associado à sobrecarga deste.1 De acordo com a literatura, na população geral, maiores níveis de atividade física (AF) contribuem para menores níveis de distress2. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi verificar se esta relação se confirma em cuidadores informais de pessoas com DPOC. Metodologia: Foi desenvolvido um estudo observacional transversal, tendo-se realizado a caracterização sociodemográfica da amostra, a recolha de informação sobre o contexto de prestação de cuidados e a aplicação dos questionários: Questionário de Avaliação de Sobrecarga do Cuidador Informal (QASCI), para avaliar o nível de distress associado à sobrecarga, e Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (HPAQ), para avaliar o nível de AF. Para a análise de dados foram utilizadas medidas de estatística descritiva, os coeficientes de correlação Pearson e Spearman e regressões lineares (simples e múltiplas). Resultados: Foram incluídos 26 cuidadores (63,1 ± 9,7 anos; 84,6% feminino e 15,4% masculino). A média do QASCI foi de 31,3 ± 22 e a do HPAQ foi de 5,5 ± 1,8. A correlação entre estas variáveis foi moderada negativa (r=-0,535, p=0.01). A variável AF teve a capacidade de predizer o valor do QASCI em 28,7%. Ao adicionar a variável duração de cuidados em anos, foi possível aumentar para 54,6% a capacidade de a equação predizer o valor do QASCI. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que existe uma relação entre o aumento do nível da AF e a diminuição do nível de distress nesta população. Estes achados suportam a importância da promoção da prática de AF nos cuidadores informais de indivíduos com DPOC. Estudos longitudinais futuros deverão ser considerados.
- Mínima diferença de importância clínica para a força isométrica do quadricípite em pessoas com DPOC após reabilitação respiratóriaPublication . Oliveira, Ana; Rebelo, Patrícia; Paixão, Cátia; Jácome, Cristina; Cruz, Joana; Martins, Vitória; Simão, Paula; Brooks, Dina; Marques, AldaIntrodução e objetivos: A força muscular do quadricípite é um forte indicador de morbilidade e mortalidade em pessoas com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC). A reabilitação respiratória (RR) aumenta a força muscular. Contudo, a interpretação clínica dos resultados da RR é limitada pela ausência de pontos de corte que identifiquem alterações clinicamente relevantes para a força muscular (i.e., mínima diferença de importância clínica – MDIC). Este estudo teve como objetivo calcular a MDIC para a força muscular isométrica do quadricípite em pessoas com DPOC após um programa de RR. Materiais e Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo observacional prospetivo com pessoas com DPOC, que participaram num programa de RR. A força isométrica do quadricípite foi recolhida com um dinamómetro handheld. O teste de marcha de 6 minutos (TM6M) e o questionário respiratório de St. George (SGRQ) foram usados como âncoras, caso se verificasse uma correlação entre as diferenças na força muscular e a diferença nestes testes > 0.30. A MDIC foi calculada utilizando métodos de âncora (i.e., diferenças entre médias e regressões lineares) e métodos de distribuição (i.e., 0.5*desvio padrão [0.5DP]; erro standard da medida [ESM]; 1.96*ESM [1.96ESM]; mínima diferença detetável [MDC95]). As MDIC finais foram estabelecidas através do cálculo da média dos valores encontrados com todos os métodos. Resultados: 70 pessoas com DPOC foram incluídas (81% homens, 70±7 anos, FEV1 48±17%previsto). Não foram encontradas correlações entre as diferenças na força muscular e no TM6M (r= 0,02; p=0,873) e no SGRQ (r=-0,13; p=0,284), pelo que os métodos de âncora não puderam ser aplicados. Os valores encontrados com os métodos de distribuição foram: 4,1 (0.5DP), 2,9 (ESM), 5,7 (1,96ESM) e 8,1 (MDC95) kgf. A MDIC final foi de 5,2 kgf (min. 2,9 – max. 8,1 kgf). Conclusões: A MDIC encontrada poderá ser usada pelos fisioterapeutas para interpretar os efeitos da RR na força muscular isométrica do quadricípite. Contudo, os resultados devem ser interpretados com cuidado uma vez que apenas métodos de distribuição foram utilizados, o que pode ter contribuído para uma sobrestimação da MDIC encontrada.