Knowledge and perceptions regarding pulmonary rehabilitation amongst Ecuadorian physicians following COVID-19 outbreak

Knowledge and perceptions regarding pulmonary rehabilitation amongst Ecuadorian physicians following COVID-19 outbreak

Authors

  • Miguel Felix New York City Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Bronx, New York, USA
  • Emanuel Vanegas New York City Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Azza Sarfraz The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Zouina Sarfraz Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Genesis Camacho Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
  • Alanna Barrios-Ruiz Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US
  • Jack Michel Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US
  • Zeynep Yukselen University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the United States
  • Arjola Agolli Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US
  • Derly Madeleiny Andrade Molina Universidad Espiritu Santo
  • Pilar Cejudo Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España
  • Karla Robles-Velasco Universidad Espiritu Santo
  • María José Farfán Bajaña Universidad Espiritu Santo
  • Juan Carlos Calderon Universidad Espiritu Santo
  • Arturo Cortes-Telles Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Península de Yucatán, Mérida, México
  • Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón; Respiralab Research Group, Guayaquil

Keywords:

COVID-19, Knowledge, Latin America, Perceptions, Physicians, Pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is already an established technique for patients with chronic respiratory disease, aimed at improving breathlessness, exercise capacity, health status, and well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and perceptions about pulmonary rehabilitation post-COVID-19 infection among Ecuadorian physicians.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey-based study using a 27-item questionnaire to assess knowledge about specific topics related to pulmonary rehabilitation. The sample comprised Ecuadorian physicians who were currently enrolled in an active medical practice that included care for COVID-19 patients. Descriptive statistics were applied for demographic variables of interest. A chi-square goodness of fit test was used to determine whether the observed frequencies of each of the answers per query were within or outside of the expected frequencies by chance.
Results: In total, 295 participants answered the survey, of which 57.3% were general practitioners. Most agreed that COVID-19-infected patients must be followed up with some measurement of respiratory function (81.4%, p=0.000), but only 18.3% (n=54, p=0.000) were aware of specific guidelines related to rehabilitation. 93.6% (n=276, p=0.000) considered that pulmonary rehabilitation provides a benefit of any kind to patients with past COVID-19 infection.
Conclusions: Most physicians considered pulmonary rehabilitation beneficial following COVID-19. However, there is uncertainty on how to adequately follow-up patients, complementary tests, and specific guidelines outlining rehabilitative interventions.

Author Biographies

Miguel Felix, New York City Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Bronx, New York, USA

Department of Medicine

Emanuel Vanegas, New York City Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Department of Medicine

Azza Sarfraz, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health

Zouina Sarfraz, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan

Research & Publications

Genesis Camacho, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela

División de Estudios para Graduados, Facultad de Medicina

Alanna Barrios-Ruiz, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US

Division of Clinical and Translational Research

Jack Michel, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US

Division of Clinical and Translational Research

Zeynep Yukselen, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the United States

School of Public Health and Health Sciences

Arjola Agolli, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, US

Division of Clinical and Translational Research

Pilar Cejudo, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España

Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias

Arturo Cortes-Telles, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Península de Yucatán, Mérida, México

Departamento de Neumología y Cirugía de Tórax

References

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (Internet). COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). 2020.

Docherty AB, Harrison EM, Green CA, Hardwick HE, Pius R, Norman L, et al. Features of 20 133 UK patients in hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ 2020;369:m1985.

Polastri M, Nava S, Clini E, Vitacca M, Gosselink R. COVID-19 and pulmonary rehabilitation: preparing for phase three. Eur Respir J E 2020;55:2001822.

Thomas P, Baldwin C, Bissett B, Boden I, Gosselink R, Granger CL, et al. Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting: clinical practice recommendations. J Physiother 2020;66:73-82.

Liang T. Handbook of COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University; 2020.

Spruit MA, Singh SJ, Garvey C, ZuWallack R, Nici L, Rochester C, et al. An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: key concepts and advances in pulmonary rehabilitation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2013;188:e13–64.

George PM, Barratt SL, Condliffe R, Desai SR, Devaraj A, Forrest I, et al. Respiratory follow up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Thorax 2020;75:1009-16.

Pan American Health Organization. Rehabilitation considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak. 2020. Available from: https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/52035

Hao S, Xie L, Wang H, Wu Q, Jiang P, Guo C, et al. Respiratory physicians’ awareness and referral of pulmonary rehabilitation in China: a cross-sectional study. J Thorac Dis 2021;13:4753.

Aytür YK, Köseoğlu BF, Taşkıran ÖÖ, Ordu-Gökkaya NK, Delialioğlu SÜ, Tur BS, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation principles in SARS-COV-2 infection (COVID-19): A guideline for the acute and subacute rehabilitation. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil 2020;66:104.

Spruit MA, Holland AE, Singh SJ, Tonia T, Wilson KC, Troosters T. COVID-19: interim guidance on rehabilitation in the hospital and post-hospital phase from a European Respiratory Society-and American Thoracic Society-coordinated international task force. Eur Respir J. 2020;56:2002197.

Yang LL, Yang T. Pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Chronic Dis Transl Med 2020;6:79-86.

Iannaccone S, Castellazzi P, Tettamanti A, Houdayer E, Brugliera L, de Blasio F, et al. Role of rehabilitation department for adult individuals with COVID-19: the experience of the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2020;101:1656-61.

Jácome C, Marques A, Oliveira A, Rodrigues L, Sanches I. Pulmonary telerehabilitation: An international call for action. Pulmonology 2020;26:335.

Zhao HM, Xie YX, Wang C, Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Respiratory Rehabilitation Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Group of Chinese Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Recommendations for respiratory rehabilitation in adults with coronavirus disease 2019. Chin Med J (Engl) 2020;133:1595-602.

Gloeckl R, Leitl D, Jarosch I, Schneeberger T, Nell C, Stenzel N, et al. Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in COVID-19: a prospective observational cohort study. ERJ Open Res 2021;7:00108-2021.

Zampogna E, Paneroni M, Belli S, Aliani M, Gandolfo A, Visca D, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation in patients recovering from COVID-19. Respiration 2021;100:416-22.

Torres-Castro R, Vasconcello-Castillo L, Alsina-Restoy X, Solis-Navarro L, Burgos F, Puppo H, et al. Respiratory function in patients post-infection by COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pulmonology 2021;27:328-37.

Hong C, Liang BM, Tang YJ, Xu ZB, Ke W, Qun Y, et al. Relationship between 6-minute walk test and pulmonary function test in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with different severities. Chin Med J (Engl) 2012;125:3053-8.

Eksombatchai D, Wongsinin T, Phongnarudech T, Thammavaranucupt K, Amornputtisathaporn N, Sungkanuparph S. Pulmonary function and six-minute-walk test in patients after recovery from COVID-19: A prospective cohort study. PloS One 2021;16:e0257040.

Heresi GA, Dweik RA. Strengths and limitations of the sixminute-walk test: a model biomarker study in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011;183:1122-4.

Leochico CFD. Adoption of telerehabilitation in a developing country before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2020;63:563.

.

Published

15-03-2024

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles

How to Cite

1.
Felix M, Vanegas E, Sarfraz A, Sarfraz Z, Camacho G, Barrios-Ruiz A, et al. Knowledge and perceptions regarding pulmonary rehabilitation amongst Ecuadorian physicians following COVID-19 outbreak. Multidiscip Respir Med [Internet]. 2024 Mar. 15 [cited 2024 Dec. 7];19(1). Available from: https://mrmjournal.org/index.php/mrm/article/view/919