Integrating palliative care education in pulmonary rehabilitation - a feasibility study

Palliative care is underused in chronic respiratory diseases (CRD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) offers an opportunity for its early introduction. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of integrating palliative care education in PR. A pre/post mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted in people with CRD enrolled in 12-weeks outpatient hospital-based PR. A palliative care session was integrated in the educational content. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention, adherence, acceptability and adverse events. After PR, two focus groups were carried out. Descriptive and inductive thematic analyses were performed. A total of 44 individuals were referred for PR, of whom 22 (50%) started the programme. Sixteen participants (14 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1 asthma, 1 interstitial lung disease; 81% male, 66±9 years, FEV1 41±20%predicted) attended ≥70% of the sessions. No adverse events were reported. From the focus groups, three themes were identified: daily living with a CRD, meaningful care and demystifying misconceptions (Figure 1). Participants found the intervention acceptable and described an improvement in knowledge and change of attitude towards palliative care after PR. Integrating palliative care education in PR is safe, feasible and meaningful for people with CRD. A palliative care session seems to increase knowledge in this field. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/OA3673/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>