Accessibility, benefits and level of enjoyment following an eight-week pulmonary telerehabilitation program in people with respiratory conditions.

<bold>Background:</bold> Pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) was implemented for people with respiratory conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. <bold>Aim:</bold> To determine accessibility, benefits and level of enjoyment following an eight-week PTR program in people with respiratory conditions. <bold>Methods:</bold> Prospective survey-based study. Participants had COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease and recent lung surgery. The survey used a Likert scale and open-ended questions to report 1. Access and use of the PTR program 2. Benefits perceived 3. Enjoyment of the program. The survey was piloted on respiratory patients and staff. Delivered by a physiotherapist over the zoom platform at the final PTR assessment. <bold>Results:</bold> At the final PTR assessment 42 people completed the survey [mean (SD): F 70%; Age 67 (10), BMI 26 (6); FEV1 % pred. 63 (19)]. Participants agreed / strongly agreed that they were 1. Able to access the program (97%), could hear (97%) and see the physiotherapist (98%) 2. Felt better and could do more (95%), were more confident (88%), and less breathless (86%) 3. Enjoyed (100%) and found the program worthwhile (100%). Twenty-four had previously done face-to-face PR and agreed / strongly agreed that PTR was easier than coming to outpatients (100%) and preferred PTR (50%). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Eight-weeks of PTR was accessible, beneficial and enjoyable for people during the COVID-19 pandemic, however hospital outpatient-based PR remains the gold standard for people with respiratory conditions.