Implementation of an Exercise Education Program in a Community Center for People with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and exercise capacity. This quality improvement project evaluated the effects of an educational intervention on exercise adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among individuals with COPD. A pre-and post-intervention design was implemented with 18 participants from a community recreation center in southeast Virginia. The intervention consisted of a 60-minute education session and biweekly check-ins via phone over two months. Exercise adherence was measured via self-reported step counts, and HRQoL was assessed using the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for data analysis. Significant improvements were observed in exercise adherence (median increase from 3314 to 4103.5 steps/day, Z = -3.724, p < .001), CCQ Total Score (median decrease from 3.75 to 2.3665, Z = -3.724, p < .001), and CCQ Symptoms Domain (median decrease from 3.625 to 2.625, Z = -3.724, p < .001). The intervention increased exercise adherence and improved HRQoL, demonstrating the efficacy of exercise education for patients with COPD. Nurses can adopt similar interventions to enhance COPD patient outcomes.