Feasibility and acceptability of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Delhi, India

<bold>Background:</bold> There is limited access of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in India. Culturally appropriate home-based PR (HBPR), via a paper-based manual, for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has previously been developed by our group. <bold>Aim:</bold> To determine the feasibility and acceptability of HBPR for people with IPF in Delhi, India. <bold>Methods:</bold> Eligible participants underwent 6-week, manual-based HBPR intervention consisting of both educational material and an exercise programme suitable for a low resource setting. The primary outcome was feasibility (≥60% of eligible patients recruited and ≥70% of recruited patients completing the follow-up assessment). Acceptability was assessed by post-trial interviews, analyzed thematically. <bold>Results:</bold> Out of 42 screened patients, 36 (86%) were eligible, of which 30 (83%) were recruited. 25 participants (83% of recruited; aged 59.9±12.5 years, 60% female) completed their follow-up assessment (Figure 1). Four themes were developed from the interviews: 1) Facilitators and barriers to HBPR adherence, 2) Perceived changes after HBPR, 3) How to improve HBPR in the future, and 4) A menu of options in needed for IPF patients. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Culturally appropriate HBPR, delivered through a manual was feasible and acceptable. A fully powered trial to assess clinical and cost-effectiveness of HBPR with an expansion to other CRDs is needed. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3176/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>