Exploring participants current experiences and opinions regarding use of music/dance in pulmonary rehabilitation

Intro/Background Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the most cost effective interventions for people with COPD; improving quality of life, reducing both exacerbations and health service utilisation, and is likely to improve mortality. However, recent observational studies have shown that impact is limited by the acceptability of PR for patients. Dance has been shown to be beneficial and enjoyable in a range of chronic diseases but has not been studied in COPD. Aims: This study aimed to identify key positive and negative factors relating to participants experience of PR, and to explore perceptions regarding the potential use of music and dance to create a more enjoyable mode of delivery. Methods: Questionnaires were given to 17 participants attending PR programmes in east London, UK, which used both open and closed questions regarding participant experience of PR. Results: Nine of the 17 participants were female. Mean age 66 (range 47 to 81). Positive factors identified included ‘meeting people/social aspects’ in 11/17 participants (65%), ‘improving the feeling of control over my illness’ in 9/17 (53%), ‘feeling stronger’ in 8/17 (47%) and ‘fun’ in 8/17 (47%). Factors disliked included ‘feeling breathless’ in 5/17 (29%). Only one of the participants currently danced regularly. Regarding PR to music, 8/17 (47%) said they would like to try, and 4/17 (24%) maybe. 6/17 (35%) would like to try dance-based PR, and 3/17 (18%) maybe. Conclusions: Participants value a range of biological, psychological and social factors related to PR. PR using music and or dance may be a novel and enjoyable method of delivery for some patients and is worthy of further exploration and trials.