Helping you help yourself (HYHY) for people with mild breathlessness: a service evaluation in Wales

Gale, Nichola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-9863, Jones, Una ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7156-8531, Pierrepoint, Sarah, Rickard, Rebecca and Carter, Joseph 2021. Helping you help yourself (HYHY) for people with mild breathlessness: a service evaluation in Wales. ACPRC Journal 53 (2) , pp. 112-128. 10.56792/NICP4183

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Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based intervention which improves exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Commonly, outpatient rehabilitation is available for patients with significant breathlessness (Medical Research Council (MRC) >3). This evaluation explored changes in exercise capacity and knowledge of condition and their relationship with the impact of COPD (CAT score) at baseline following a community exercise and education programme delivered by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) in people with mild breathlessness (MRC ≤2). Methods: People with mild breathlessness, MRC ≤2, were recruited from GP surgeries, the BLF website and support groups. The 6-week Helping You Help Yourself (HYHY) programme included weekly exercise, education and social engagement. Participants were assessed at baseline using the COPD Assessment Tool (CAT), six-minute walk test (6MWT), Bristol COPD Knowledge quiz (BKQ), and questions on self-management was assessed by questionnaire. After 6 weeks 6MWT, BKQ and self-management were assessed and related to CAT at baseline. The usefulness of the programme to participants was also assessed by questionnaire. Results: In the 210 patients who completed assessments before and after rehabilitation, there was an increase in 6MWT distance, median (IQR) 60 (30-80)m and BKQ 3 (1-4) points (P<0.05), and most elements of self-management improved. Almost all participants considered HYHY useful (P<0.05). There was no relationship between baseline CAT score and change in outcome measures (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results support the provision of community rehabilitation as an alternative to hospital-based interventions to support and promote self-management in people with mild breathlessness across the severity of disease burden as measured by CAT.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Publisher:	Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care
ISSN:	2059-0199
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 October 2021
Date of Acceptance:	10 August 2021
Last Modified:	11 May 2023 07:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/144646

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