Understanding Adherence in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Multi-Group Analysis

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs improve functional capacity in individuals with chronic respiratory diseases. However, adherence to physical activity recommendations remains a significant challenge. This study aimed to identify characteristics associated with physical activity engagement across different functional capacity levels after PR. <bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a correlational cross-sectional study including participants with and without functional limitations. We assessed demographic characteristics, health status, and psychological factors to a convenience sample of 27 participants at the end of a home-based PR programme. We considered actives the participants who walked more than 5000 steps/day and the participants who had more than 70% of the expected distance in the 6mWT with capacity and categorised them as: · Active with capacity · Inactive with capacity · Active with limited capacity · Inactive with limited capacity <bold>Results:</bold> The following characteristics seem to be associated with physical activity engagement across different functional capacity levels after PR: Sex, presence of cardiac diseases, depression symptoms and obesity. People with more functional limitations take less time to create awareness and recognise a transition experience. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between functional capacity, physical activity engagement, and individual characteristics in the context of PR. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective strategies to improve adherence and maximise the benefits of PR programmes for chronic respiratory patients.