Effect on health-related quality of life of ongoing feedback during a 12-month maintenance walking programme in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled trial.

Background and objectiveIn patients with COPD, this study evaluated the effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adding ongoing feedback to a 12-month unsupervised maintenance walking programme. MethodsParticipants were randomized to either an intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). Both groups completed the same 2-month supervised, walking training programme followed by a 12-month unsupervised maintenance walking programme. During the maintenance programme, the IG received ongoing feedback (telephone calls, biofeedback and progressive goal setting) and the CG received no feedback. ResultsA total of 75 participants completed the study (mean (SD): age 69 (8) years; forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) 43 (15) % predicted). There was no between-group differences in the magnitude of change in HRQoL when data collected on completion of the 12-month maintenance programme were compared with that collected either before the 2-month supervised programme (mean between-group difference (MD) in total St George's Respiratory Questionnaire change scores: 1 point, 95% CI: -9 to 7) or on completion of the 2-month supervised programme (MD: 4 points, 95% CI -2 to 10). ConclusionFollowing a 2-month supervised walking training programme, ongoing feedback was no more effective than no feedback in maintaining HRQoL during a 12-month unsupervised walking programme.