Development of a Mobile Telerehabilitation App for Chronic Respiratory Diseases with Enhanced Remote Monitoring and Tailor-Made Intervention: A Feasibility Study

<bold>Background:</bold> Rehabilitation is defined as an individualized and comprehensive intervention. Ideally, similar interventions are required in telerehabilitation as well. <bold>Aim:</bold> To develop a mobile telerehabilitation application software(app) for Chronic Respiratory Diseases that allows for remote monitoring of key respiratory parameters with individualized intervention. <bold>Methods:</bold> A joint industry-academic research team was formed to develop an app using Android smartphones for patients and Windows tablets for medical professionals. <bold>Results:</bold> The app equipped with e-diary displays respiratory parameters from a thoracic belt and pulse oximeter on both the patient's smartphone and medical tablet. Parameters include respiratory rate(RR), thoracic movement, I/E ratio, pulse rate(PR), and SpO₂, presented as numerical values and trend graphs. The system also features a patient image with pinch-to-zoom functionality for observing facial expressions and mouth area. In a feasibility study with nine males (mean age 21.1 years) conducted between two facilities located 15 km apart, all respiratory parameters were obtained stably while sitting. However, while walking for 6 minutes, PR and SpO₂ became unstable in four individuals, likely due to large arm swinging, and RR and I/E ratio were difficult to assess. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The developed app was suggested to have potential for telerehabilitation, including breathing retraining, resistance training, endurance training using an ergometer, and ADL training, under respiratory monitoring at the patient's home. It may also be useful for walking with reduced arm swinging, warranting further investigation.