Current status of pulmonary rehabilitation in Saga Prefecture and Chikugo District，Fukuoka Prefecture，and its relation to therapists with respiratory-related professional qualifications

Abstract

Introduction: The current status of pulmonary rehabilitation in the Saga Prefecture and Chikugo District of Fukuoka Prefecture (Chikugo District) and dependence of pulmonary rehabilitation on therapists with respiration-related professional qualifications (qualified therapists) remains unknown.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to facilities in the Saga Prefecture and Chikugo District that had submitted pulmonary rehabilitation fee applications, regarding methods of providing pulmonary rehabilitation, patient assessment, program components, and quality assurance. Comparisons were made between facilities with and without qualified therapists.

Results: Our data showed a trend toward low implementation rates of assessments on physical activity, patient knowledge, disease-specific activities of daily living, frailty, health-related quality of life, and measurement of lower-extremity muscle strength using equipment. In addition, implementation of self-management education tended to be low. Facilities with qualified therapists were significantly more likely to implement only exercise tolerance testing (p＝0.024).

Conclusion: The prevalence of self-management education needs to be increased. The association between the presence of qualified therapists and the quality of pulmonary rehabilitation is limited.