Effectiveness of patient decision aid supported shared decision-making intervention in in-person and virtual hybrid pulmonary rehabilitation in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Introduction Tele-pulmonary rehabilitation is increasingly advocated but cannot completely substitute for in-person services for chronic conditions. Adherence to Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) remains low in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Shared decision-making (SDM) promotes patients' participation in PR decisions and helps patients and healthcare providers to jointly make decisions that patients are informed and aligned with patient preferences and values, which are critical for patient adherence to PR. Objective This study aimed to develop a hybrid in-person and virtual model of home-based PR services for older COPD patients and study the effectiveness of the patient decision aid (PDA)-supported recurring SDM intervention on patient adherence to PR, rehabilitation outcomes, and decision-related outcomes, as well as to explore the mechanisms of the intervention on PR adherence. Methods A total of 78 older COPD patients were randomly assigned to the PR group ( n = 39) or PDA-PR group ( n = 39). Both groups were conducted hybrid in-person and virtual PR intervention for 3 months. The primary outcomes were patients’ quality of life and PR adherence. The secondary outcomes were dyspnea symptoms, exercise self-efficacy, knowledge, and decision-related outcomes. Results A total of 72 participants completed the 3-month PR program. There were statistically significant differences in PR adherence ( p = 0.033), COPD assessment test (CAT) scores ( p = 0.016), PR knowledge ( p < 0.001), decision self-efficacy ( p < 0.001), decision conflict ( p < 0.001), and decision regret scores ( p = 0.027) between the two groups. The modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea scale (mMRC) score was significantly decreased only in PDA-PR group ( p = 0.011). No statistically significant differences were observed in St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score ( p = 0.078), Exercise Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale (Ex-SRES) score ( p = 0.29) and COPD knowledge ( p = 0.086) between the two groups. PR value score had a significant effect on adherence to PR ( p = 0.007) and CAT score ( p = 0.028). Conclusions PDA supported recurring SDM intervention was helpful in maintaining older COPD patients’ PR adherence and had advantages in improving quality of life, enhancing PR knowledge, decision self-efficacy, and reducing decision conflict and decision regret, but did not improve SGRQ and Ex-SRES. PR value score influenced patients’ rehabilitation adherence and quality of life. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR1900028563; http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/default.aspx.