Disputas – Master i klinisk fysioterapi Hanne Hoaas

Despite the fact that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and maintenance programs are beneficial and recommended to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), their availability remains low.

Telerehabilitation can support the delivery of such programs to patients’ homes. However, there is little knowledge of its benefits for people with COPD.

This thesis aimed to investigate if long-term telerehabilitation in COPD is feasible and effective, and evaluate benefits and challenges. We tested a 2-year telerehabilitation intervention comprising of treadmill exercise at home, telemonitoring by a physiotherapist via videoconferencing, and self-management via a website in a pilot study and an international randomized controlled trial.

Long-term telerehabilitation in COPD is safe and feasible, can prevent worsening of lung function and symptoms, and support maintenance of physical capacity. Long-term telerehabilitation could be offered as an alternative or supplement to centre-based PR.

Veiledere

• Hovedveileder: seniorforsker Paolo Zanaboni
• Biveiledere: førsteamanuensis Audhild Hjalmarsen og førsteamanuensis Bente Morseth

Bedømmelseskomiteen

• Professor Martijn A. Spruit, Maastricht University in Maastricht – 1. opponent
• Førsteamanuensis Bente Frisk, Høgskulen på vestlandet – 2. opponent
• Professor Eirik Årsand, Institutt for klinisk medisin UiT – leder av komité

Prøveforelesning

Prøveforelesning over oppgitt emne holdes kl. 10.15, samme sted:
“The mechanism, assessment and management of respiratory and non-respiratory muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”