A Review of Non-Pharmacological Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients Receiving Palliative Care
Journal Title: Pulmonary Research and Respiratory Medicine – Open Journal - Year 2017, Vol 0, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Dyspnea is common in patients experiencing chronic and malignant lung conditions. It is a very distressing symptom that often results in anxiety and depression. Pulmonary rehabilitation together with palliative care can provide physical, psychological, and quality of life (QoL) improvements in patients that receive it. Methods: This literature review examined articles published in the last 5 years to give a current summary of the scientific literature regarding pulmonary rehabilitation for persons receiving palliative care treatment. Focus was placed on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, interstitial lung disease, and Huntington’s disease. From an initial 218 articles, 56 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Results: Prominent themes that emerged were the beneficial effects of pulmonary rehabilitation, even in late stages of lung disease, and the positive impact palliative care can have on the patient. Simultaneously, there were considerable barriers to access mentioned throughout the literature, which prevents patients from receiving either pulmonary rehabilitation and/or palliative care at the end-of life. Educating health care providers on the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation, and providing timely referrals to pulmonary rehabilitation and palliative care is important. Understanding factors which may prompt a patient to attend and complete, or discontinue, pulmonary rehabilitation treatment is important. Conclusion: Although, pulmonary rehabilitation itself is beneficial, meeting the patient where they are at and pairing rehabilitation with patient empowerment and motivating therapies such as mindfulness-based therapy may improve the patient’s QoL and care at the end-of-life. Most pulmonary rehabilitation programs are focused and tailored to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Exploring how tailored pulmonary rehabilitation programs may be effective in other populations, such as patients with interstitial lung disease, Huntington’s disease, and end-stage cancer, is warranted.
Authors and Affiliations
Shannon Freeman
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP560220
- DOI 10.17140/PRRMOJ-SE-2-105
- Views 140
- Downloads 0
Alveolar Type I Epithelial Cells: The Forgotten Cells in Fetal Lung Development and Lung Injury
The alveolar surface of the lung is covered by large flat type I epithelial cells. Even though type I cells represent only around 10% of the cells present in the alveolus; they cover much of the surface area in the devel...
Diaphragm Ultrasonography as a Tool To Assess the Respiratory Issues of a Patient With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
A 73-year-old woman with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) presented at a universityaffiliated community hospital with increasing shortness of breath. She was diagnosed with ALS 2 years prior to this event, and she had...
Rehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Lung Transplantation (LTx)
Lung transplantation (LTx) has become an established therapeutic option for treating patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. Before and after LTx, physical ability might be restricted due to certain effects on respira...
Modern Technology in Respiratory Medicine: Lung Ultrasonography–Is it Time for the Stethoscope to Give Up its Throne?
The year 2016 marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of the stethoscope by Dr. Réne Théophile Hyacinthe Laennec. He was first inspired in September 1816 when he observed 2 children playing with a long piece of soli...
Pulmonary Complications in Patients with Brain Injury
Critically ill patients with brain injury associated with organ dysfunction among which include pulmonary involvement as a determinant of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this paper is to review the major complication...