Bickton, Fanuel;
Mankhokwe, Talumba;
Chavula, Beatrice;
Chitedze, Emily;
Manda, Martha;
Fombe, Cashon;
Mitengo, Martha;
... Limbani, Felix; + view all
(2025)
Acceptability of pulmonary rehabilitation in Malawi: a qualitative study.
BMJ Open Respiratory Research
, 12
(1)
, Article e002547. 10.1136/bmjresp-2024-002547.
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Abstract
Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), but its acceptability in Malawi was unknown. // Objectives: To explore patients’ acceptability of PR at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. // Methods: This was a pre–post cohort study where participants were offered a two times per week hospital-based PR programme for 6 weeks, consisting of endurance and strengthening exercises. Following programme completion, face-to-face semistructured in-depth interviews with the participants were conducted. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using a deductive approach. // Results: 10 adults (five females and five males) out of 14 invited (~70% uptake) participated in the PR programme and subsequent in-depth interviews. Five key themes emerged: (1) debilitating symptom experience of CRD prior to PR; (2) positive impact of PR on living with CRD; (3) contextual programme design improved participants’ experience with PR; (4) one size does not fit all and (5) challenges and opportunities for home-based PR. Participants reported experiencing improvements in physical, psychological and social health associated with PR programme participation. The provision of transport was considered a key facilitator for PR programme completion. Realising the gained PR benefits, participants were willing to continue exercising at their homes. // Conclusion: The PR programme improved the participants’ perceived health status and was well-accepted. Addressing barriers related to transport facilitated immediate implementation while providing a challenge for the scaling and sustainability of PR beyond the project duration. These findings support the drive for shifting chronic care, including rehabilitation, towards primary care and community. // Trial registration number: Prospective; 27 August 2021; ISRCTN13836793.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Acceptability of pulmonary rehabilitation in Malawi: a qualitative study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjresp-2024-002547 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2024-002547 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Dept |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10208813 |
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