PhD defence by Christina Nielsen

Rethink Pulmonary Rehabilitation - the REPORT study - Reaching the Unreached - A randomized controlled trial of Two Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Models for Patients with COPD Ineligible for Center-Based Programs

Assessment Committee:
Professor Mette Aadahl, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Associate professor Charlotte Hyldgaard, Aarhus University, Denmark
Associate professor Chris Burtin, Hasselt University, Belgium

Supervisors:
Clinical Associate Professor Nina Godtfredsen
Associate Professor Henrik Hansen
Associate Professor Stig Mølsted
Clinical Professor Charlotte Suppli Ulrik

Department:
Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme:
Airways, Anesthesiology and Skin

Place:
Fælleshuset (Building 12), Room: Lassen Auditorium, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, Nielsine Nielsensvej, 2400 Copenhagen NV

Email address to gain access to the thesis: christina.nielsen.07@regionh.dk 
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.

Short description of the thesis:
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone of COPD management, with benefits comparable to medication, yet center-based PR is underutilized. Barriers such as transportation difficulties and high symptom burden limit participation. To improve access, alternatives like pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) and home-based PR (HPR) have been developed. However, patients with severe symptoms and reduced functional capacity are often underrepresented in RCT's. As a result, the effectiveness of these models in this population remains unclear. This thesis aimed to design a multicenter RCT comparing PTR, HPR, and usual care, evaluate the reproducibility of outcomes in home settings, examine patient engagement over time, and assess equivalence and superiority between interventions.